It's a bit rubbery if the dead vote (5)
I believe the answer is:
latex
'it's a bit rubbery if' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'dead vote' is the wordplay.
'dead' becomes 'late' (similar in meaning).
'vote' becomes 'x' (how votes are marked).
'late'+'x'='LATEX'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for latex that I've seen before include "Milky juice of rubber tree" , "Milky sap of rubber tree" , "Tree fluid used to make rubber" , "Whitish milky fluid" , "Juice in rubber-making" .)