Arbitrator earned suspect votes (9)
I believe the answer is:
referenda
'votes' is the definition.
(referendum is a kind of vote)
'arbitrator earned suspect' is the wordplay.
'arbitrator' becomes 'ref' (short for referee).
'suspect' indicates an anagram (a suspicious or unusual spelling).
'earned' anagrammed gives 'erenda'.
'ref'+'erenda'='REFERENDA'
(Other definitions for referenda that I've seen before include "decisions for people" , "National polls as for amendments of constitution" , "National ballots on specific issues" , "submissions to people" , "General votes" .)