The way we live our lives and the quality of government services we receive depend on decisions made at the local, state, and national levels. These decisions are determined by who we elect to represent us and what policies they enact. Whether your local schools get more resources, the roads are fixed, or you can afford health insurance, job security, and a safe community, these things and many more are determined by who we vote for to govern at all levels of government.
Voting is a common way to reach decisions within groups of people who do not all agree. It can occur formally via ballot to elect other members of an organization, such as a club or society, or to adopt or change its rules; in more informal ways like by show of hands or audience response systems; or through written or spoken agreement. It can also happen on a larger scale, for example in countries holding periodic elections for their governments.
The most common voting method involves using a paper ballot on which voters mark their preference for various candidates and parties. They may then put the ballot in a ballot box or other container for counting, or they may submit it by mail to their election office. In the latter case, voters may be able to designate someone else to pick up their ballot for them (if they are unable to go themselves). There are a number of tools and services available to help make voting accessible to all.
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