Votar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

votar means "to vote" in English, and it is a verb you will use constantly once you start speaking Spanish for real. This page shows votar in everyday sentences, grouped by meaning, then puts it into two short conversations, lists the mistakes learners actually make, and finishes with a ten-question quiz and answers to the most common questions. Every sentence below uses a real form of votar, so you can copy the patterns and change the person, the tense and the complement to make your own versions. Start with the examples, say them aloud, and then try the quiz without looking back.

Example sentences with votar

Everyday use

Votar means to vote. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. Yo voto en las elecciones — "I vote in the elections"
  2. Él vota por mi candidato — "He votes for my candidate"
  3. Cada cuatro años, yo voté — "Every four years, I voted"
  4. Yo votaba en las elecciones — "I used to vote in the elections"
  5. Yo votaré por mi candidato — "I will vote for my candidate"
  6. Cada cuatro años, yo he votado — "Every four years, I have voted"

In the past and the future

The same verb in the past and the future: the form changes, but the meaning stays the same.

  1. Cada cuatro años, él votó — "Every four years, he voted"
  2. Él votaba en las elecciones — "He used to vote in the elections"
  3. Tú votarás por mi candidato — "You will vote for my candidate"
  4. Cada cuatro años, yo votaría — "Every four years, I would vote"
  5. Yo había votado en las elecciones — "I had voted in the elections"
  6. Nosotros votamos por mi candidato — "We vote for my candidate"

Votar in conversation

The two dialogues below show votar in natural conversation. Read both parts aloud, then try to continue each dialogue with a sentence of your own.

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú votas en las elecciones? — "Do you vote in the elections?"
  • Sí, yo voto en las elecciones cada día. — "Yes, I vote in the elections every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú votaste por mi candidato? — "And yesterday? Did you vote for my candidate?"
  • Sí, yo voté por mi candidato. — "Yes, I voted for my candidate."
  • Mañana, cada cuatro años, yo votaré también. — "Tomorrow, every four years, I will vote too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros votáis en las elecciones? — "Do you vote in the elections?"
  • Sí, nosotros votamos en las elecciones los fines de semana. — "Yes, We vote in the elections at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos votan por mi candidato? — "And them? Do they vote for my candidate?"
  • Sí, ellos votan por mi candidato también. — "Yes, They vote for my candidate too."
  • Mañana nosotros votaremos por mi candidato otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will vote for my candidate again."

Useful phrases with votar

Four patterns you can use with votar in any conversation. The infinitive stays the same; only the first verb changes.

  • Voy a votar en las elecciones. — "I am going to vote in the elections."
  • Quiero votar por mi candidato. — "I want to vote for my candidate."
  • Me gusta votar cada cuatro años. — "I like to vote every four years."
  • Acabo de votar en las elecciones. — "I have just voted in the elections."

Common mistakes with votar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos vota en las elecciones.
  • Right: Ellos votan en las elecciones.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form votan. The singular vota belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo voté.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo voto.
  • Why: Todos los días means every day, so the action is a habit and needs the present tense. The preterite is for one finished action, not for routines.

Mistake 3

  • Wrong: Yo soy votado por mi candidato.
  • Right: Yo he votado por mi candidato.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he votado, has votado, ha votado.

Mistake 4

  • Wrong: Ayer, yo voto.
  • Right: Ayer, yo voté.
  • Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite (voté). The present (voto) is for habits and for now.

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él vota en las elecciones.
  • Right: Espero que él vote en las elecciones.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: vote. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: votar in use

Ten questions on votar across the tenses. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.

1. What is the I form of votar in the present tense?

  • (a) voto
  • (b) votó
  • (c) votaba
  • (d) votáis

Answer: (a) voto. The I form in the present is voto.

2. What is the he / she form of votar in the present tense?

  • (a) votasteis
  • (b) votábamos
  • (c) habías votado
  • (d) vota

Answer: (d) vota. The he / she form in the present is vota.

3. What is the he / she form of votar in the preterite tense?

  • (a) ha votado
  • (b) hemos votado
  • (c) votó
  • (d) votarías

Answer: (c) votó. The he / she form in the preterite is votó.

4. What is the I form of votar in the imperfect tense?

  • (a) votamos
  • (b) votó
  • (c) habré votado
  • (d) votaba

Answer: (d) votaba. The I form in the imperfect is votaba.

5. What is the I form of votar in the future tense?

  • (a) votaré
  • (b) votaras
  • (c) habrá votado
  • (d) votaríamos

Answer: (a) votaré. The I form in the future is votaré.

6. What is the I form of votar in the present perfect tense?

  • (a) votó
  • (b) votaréis
  • (c) he votado
  • (d) votarais

Answer: (c) he votado. The I form in the present perfect is he votado.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en las elecciones.

  • (a) votéis
  • (b) votes
  • (c) vote
  • (d) votemos

Answer: (c) vote. The he / she form in the present subjunctive is vote.

8. What is the we form of votar in the present tense?

  • (a) votaba
  • (b) votaste
  • (c) había votado
  • (d) votamos

Answer: (d) votamos. The we form in the present is votamos.

9. What is the I form of votar in the preterite tense?

  • (a) votad
  • (b) votáramos
  • (c) voté
  • (d) habríais votado

Answer: (c) voté. The I form in the preterite is voté.

10. What is the they form of votar in the present tense?

  • (a) votan
  • (b) votaban
  • (c) voté
  • (d) he votado

Answer: (a) votan. The they form in the present is votan.

Frequently asked questions about votar

Is votar regular?

Yes. Votar is a regular -ar verb: voto, votas, vota. See the full conjugation of votar for every tense.

What is the past participle of votar?

The past participle is votado, used with haber in the perfect tenses: he votado. The gerund is votando, used with estar: estoy votando.

How do I say “I vote” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo voté por mi candidato. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Cada cuatro años, yo votaba.

How can I practise votar?

Start with the examples above: say each sentence aloud, then change the person and the complement. Then take the quiz, and finish with the Verb Quiz and the Conjugation Practice tools, which test the same forms in a different order. A few minutes a day with one verb is worth more than an hour once a week.

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