Verb

voting

1. Present participle of vote.

Adjective

voting (not comparable)

1. (finance) Having an associated right for the holder to vote as an owner of business.
   • The cumulative voting preferred stock remains voting until all cumulative dividends are paid.

Noun

voting (plural votings)

1. action of the verb to vote

Derived terms

• cumulative voting
• preferential voting
• voting booth
• voting machine
• voting paper
• voting slip
• voting station
• voting stock

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 and republics.

Reasons for voting

In a representative government, voting commonly implies election: a way for an electorate to select among candidates for office. In politics voting is the method by which the electorate of a democracy appoints representatives in its government.

A vote is an individual's act of voting, by which he or she expresses support or preference for a certain motion (for example, a proposed resolution), a certain candidate, a selection of candidates, or a political party. With a secret ballot to protect voters' political privacy, voting generally takes place at a polling station. The act of voting is voluntary in some countries; whereas some countries, such as Argentina, Australia, Belgium and Brazil, have compulsory voting systems.