Introduction

Votar means “to vote”, and this page covers exactly one thing: votar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for votar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about votar in the present. Votar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo voto en las elecciones” — "I vote in the elections". Everything on this page uses the forms of votar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Votar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo voto
tú votas
él/ella/Ud. vota
nosotros/as votamos
vosotros/as votáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. votan

Gerund: votando · Past participle: votado

The gerund is votando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy votando” means the action of votar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is votado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he votado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how votar is used.

How the present of votar is formed

Votar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem vot and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving voto, votas, vota, votamos, votáis, votan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, votáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of votar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form votáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form voto is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of votar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use votar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, votar goes in the present. Example: “Yo voto por mi candidato” — "I vote for my candidate".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about votar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Cada cuatro años, él vota” — "Every four years, he votes".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so voto can mean both "I vote" and "I am voting". Example: “Yo voto en las elecciones” — "I vote in the elections".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros votamos por mi candidato” — "We vote for my candidate".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with votar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Cada cuatro años, él vota” — "Every four years, he votes".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo voto en las elecciones” — "I vote in the elections".

  • Preterite: “Yo voté en las elecciones” — "I voted in the elections".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él vota por mi candidato” — "He votes for my candidate".

  • Preterite: “Él votó por mi candidato” — "He voted for my candidate".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Cada cuatro años, nosotros votamos” — "Every four years, we vote".

  • Preterite: “Cada cuatro años, nosotros votamos” — "Every four years, we voted".

  • The two sentences look identical: votamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: votar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo voto por mi candidato” — "I vote for my candidate"

  2. “Cada cuatro años, tú votas” — "Every four years, you vote"

  3. “Él vota en las elecciones” — "He votes in the elections"

  4. “Nosotros votamos por mi candidato” — "We vote for my candidate"

  5. “Cada cuatro años, vosotros votáis” — "Every four years, you vote"

  6. “Ellos votan en las elecciones” — "They vote in the elections"

  7. “Yo voto por mi candidato” — "I vote for my candidate"

  8. “Cada cuatro años, él vota” — "Every four years, he votes"

Common mistakes with votar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • 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.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo voté” Right: “Todos los días, yo voto” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (voté) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo vota en las elecciones.” Right: “Yo voto en las elecciones” Why: Yo needs the yo form voto. The él form vota belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo voto” Right: “Ayer, yo voté” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to voté.

Quiz: votar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ en las elecciones.” (yo form)

A. voto B. votamos C. votan D. votáis

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ por mi candidato.” (tú form)

A. voto B. votas C. vota D. votamos

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ en las elecciones.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. voto B. votamos C. votáis D. vota

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ por mi candidato.” (nosotros/as form)

A. votan B. votáis C. votamos D. vota

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ en las elecciones.” (vosotros/as form)

A. votan B. votáis C. votas D. voto

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ por mi candidato.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. votan B. vota C. votáis D. votamos

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo voto B. Todos los días, yo voté

Answer key

  1. voto — The yo present of votar is voto.
  2. votas — The tú present of votar is votas.
  3. vota — The él/ella/Ud. present of votar is vota.
  4. votamos — The nosotros/as present of votar is votamos.
  5. votáis — The vosotros/as present of votar is votáis.
  6. votan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of votar is votan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo voto — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of votar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo voto en las elecciones. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of votar formed?

Take the stem vot- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving voto, votas, vota, votamos, votáis, votan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for votar?

The present (voto) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (voté) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise votar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — voto, votas, vota, votamos, votáis, votan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the votar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of votar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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