To vote means to make an official choice between options, usually by marking a ballot, raising your hand, or speaking your preference aloud. When citizens vote in an election, they choose which candidates they want to represent them in government. When your class votes on which book to read next, each student gets to express their preference, and the option with the most votes wins.

Voting is one way groups can make decisions when people disagree. Instead of the loudest person or the strongest person getting their way, everyone's opinion can count equally. In the United States, the right to vote (called suffrage) is considered very important because it gives ordinary citizens power over their government. American history includes long struggles to extend voting rights to people who were once excluded: in the 1800s, only white men who owned property could vote, but over time, the right expanded to include more adult citizens.

A vote can also be the choice itself: “The vote was 15 to 12 in favor of pizza.” You might also hear expressions like voting with your feet (showing your opinion through actions) or voting with your wallet (choosing what to buy based on your values). Whether in a democracy, a classroom, or a club meeting, voting transforms individual opinions into collective decisions.