Noun

Singular vote

Plural votes

vote (plural votes)

1. A formalized choice on matters of administration or other democratic activities.

   The city council decided the matter should go to public vote.

   Parliament will hold a vote of confidence regarding the minister.

2. An act or instance of participating in such a choice, e.g., by submitting a ballot.

   The Supreme Court upheld the principle of one person, one vote.

Derived terms

• donkey vote
• get out the vote

• informal vote

Verb

Infinitive to vote

Third person singular votes

Simple past voted

Past participle voted

Present participle voting

to vote (third-person singular simple present votes, present participle voting, simple past and past participle voted)

1. To cast a vote; to assert a formalised choice in an election.

   The depository may vote shares on behalf of investors who have not submitted instruction to the bank.

Derived terms

• voter
• vote in

• vote out
• vote with one's feet

Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies.

Process of voting

Representative democracies discern the will of the people by a common voting procedure:

• Individual voter registration and qualification,
• Opening the election for a set time period,
• Registration of voters at established voting places,
• Distribution of ballots with preset candidates, issues, and choices (including the write-in option in some cases),
• Selection of preferred choices (often in secret, called a secret ballot),
• Secure collection of ballots for unbiased counting, and
• Proclamation of the will of the voters as the will of the people for their government.