ELI5 - How does voting work?

Voting is a way for grown ups to make choices together. It helps a big group decide what they want, even when people do not all agree.

Imagine a class choosing a game to play. One kid likes tag. Another likes soccer. Instead of arguing, the teacher asks everyone to raise their hand for the game they want. The game with the most hands wins. Voting works like that, but for a whole country. In politics, people vote to choose leaders and rules. Leaders are people like presidents, prime ministers, or mayors. Rules are laws about how the country should work. Voting lets regular people have a say instead of just one powerful person deciding everything.

Before voting day, people learn about the choices. Leaders talk about their ideas. They explain what they want to do if they win. This might include things like schools, roads, jobs, or safety. People listen, talk with others, and think about which choice they like best. On voting day, people go to a special place called a polling station, or they vote by mail or online in some countries. They get a ballot. A ballot is just a paper or screen that shows the choices. The voter marks the name of the person or option they want. This choice is private, so no one can see what they picked.

After everyone votes, the votes are counted. Each vote is like one point. The person or choice with the most points usually wins. In some elections, you need more than half of the votes. In others, you just need more than anyone else. The exact rules depend on the country. Once the winner is decided, they get the job. If it is a leader, they get to make decisions for a set amount of time. This time is called a term. When the term ends, people usually vote again. That way, leaders have to keep doing a good job, or they might lose next time.

Voting matters because it gives people a voice. Even one vote counts as part of the group. When many people vote, the result better shows what the country wants. That is why many places encourage everyone to vote. It helps keep things fair and shared.