Votar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb votar means to vote, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Votar is a regular -ar verb, so the tables below show you exactly how it behaves in every tense. On this page you will find the full conjugation of votar in all thirteen tenses, notes on when to use each one, example sentences, the mistakes learners make most often, a ten-question quiz and answers to the questions students ask about this verb. For example, in the present tense you say Yo voto en las elecciones — "I vote in the elections" — and in the preterite you say Yo voté por mi candidato — "I voted for my candidate". Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: votar
- English: to vote
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: votando
- Past participle: votado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + votado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for votar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for votar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Gerund: votando · Past participle: votado
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | voto |
| tú | votas |
| él/ella/Ud. | vota |
| nosotros/as | votamos |
| vosotros/as | votáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | voté |
| tú | votaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | votó |
| nosotros/as | votamos |
| vosotros/as | votasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | votaba |
| tú | votabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | votaba |
| nosotros/as | votábamos |
| vosotros/as | votabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | votaré |
| tú | votarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | votará |
| nosotros/as | votaremos |
| vosotros/as | votaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | votaría |
| tú | votarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | votaría |
| nosotros/as | votaríamos |
| vosotros/as | votaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he votado |
| tú | has votado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha votado |
| nosotros/as | hemos votado |
| vosotros/as | habéis votado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han votado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había votado |
| tú | habías votado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había votado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos votado |
| vosotros/as | habíais votado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían votado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré votado |
| tú | habrás votado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá votado |
| nosotros/as | habremos votado |
| vosotros/as | habréis votado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán votado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría votado |
| tú | habrías votado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría votado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos votado |
| vosotros/as | habríais votado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían votado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | vote |
| tú | votes |
| él/ella/Ud. | vote |
| nosotros/as | votemos |
| vosotros/as | votéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | voten |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | votara |
| tú | votaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | votara |
| nosotros/as | votáramos |
| vosotros/as | votarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | votaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | vota |
| él/ella/Ud. | vote |
| nosotros/as | votemos |
| vosotros/as | votad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | voten |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | votes |
| él/ella/Ud. | vote |
| nosotros/as | votemos |
| vosotros/as | votéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | voten |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | votando | with estar for the progressive: estoy votando |
| Past participle | votado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he votado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. It is the tense you will use most often in everyday conversation, for habits with words like todos los días and for statements that are true in general. For votar, the present indicative looks like this in a real sentence: Yo voto por mi candidato — "I vote for my candidate". Learn the present indicative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions in the past — things that started and ended, often with time words like ayer, anoche or la semana pasada. The preterite moves a story forward, one completed event at a time. For votar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Cada cuatro años, yo voté — "Every four years, I voted". Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with words like antes, de niño or mientras. It describes how things used to be, not one finished event. For votar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo votaba en las elecciones — "I used to vote in the elections". Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. It talks about what will happen, not what is happening now. For votar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Yo votaré por mi candidato — "I will vote for my candidate". Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often in si clauses. It softens a request and describes imagined situations. For votar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Cada cuatro años, yo votaría — "Every four years, I would vote". Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. It connects the past with the present moment. For votar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo he votado en las elecciones — "I have voted in the elections". Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. It is the past of the past, and it usually appears with antes de or ya. For votar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo había votado por mi candidato — "I had voted for my candidate". Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time, often with para mañana or para el viernes. For votar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Cada cuatro años, yo habré votado — "Every four years, I will have voted". Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. It looks back at a past that never happened. For votar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Yo habría votado en las elecciones — "I would have voted in the elections". Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. The subjunctive does not state a fact; it states an attitude towards the action. For votar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él vote por mi candidato — "I hope he votes for my candidate". Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For votar, the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) looks like this in a real sentence: Si yo votara cada cuatro años, todo cambiaría — "If I voted every four years, everything would change". Learn the imperfect subjunctive (-ra) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. It tells someone to do something, and it has no yo form. For votar, the imperative (affirmative) looks like this in a real sentence: Vote en las elecciones — "Let him vote in the elections". Learn the imperative (affirmative) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. It uses the subjunctive forms, so it looks different from the affirmative commands. For votar, the imperative (negative) looks like this in a real sentence: No votes por mi candidato — "Don't vote for my candidate". Learn the imperative (negative) forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with votar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Cada cuatro años, yo voto — "Every four years, I vote"
- Él vota en las elecciones — "He votes in the elections"
- Yo voté por mi candidato — "I voted for my candidate"
- Cada cuatro años, yo votaba — "Every four years, I used to vote"
- Tú votarás en las elecciones — "You will vote in the elections"
- Yo votaría por mi candidato — "I would vote for my candidate"
- Cada cuatro años, él ha votado — "Every four years, he has voted"
- Espero que él vote en las elecciones — "I hope he votes in the elections"
- Yo había votado por mi candidato — "I had voted for my candidate"
- Cada cuatro años, ellos votaban — "Every four years, they used to vote"
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Ellos vota en las elecciones — Right: Ellos votan en las elecciones — Ellos needs the ellos form votan. The singular vota belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.
- Wrong: Ayer, yo voto — Right: Ayer, yo voté — The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to voté.
- Wrong: De niño, yo voté todos los días. — Right: Todos los días, yo votaba — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (votaba), not the preterite. The preterite (voté) is for one finished action.
- Wrong: Yo soy votado por mi candidato. — Right: Yo he votado por mi candidato. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he votado, has votado, ha votado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: Espero que él vota en las elecciones. — Right: Espero que él vote en las elecciones. — After espero que, Spanish needs the subjunctive: vote. The indicative vota is wrong here.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on votar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en las elecciones. (present tense) A. votaríamos B. habrían votado C. vota D. voto
Complete the sentence: Él ___ en las elecciones. (preterite) A. votó B. votamos C. votaríais D. habíamos votado
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en las elecciones. (imperfect) A. votaba B. votaras C. habríamos votado D. votábamos
Complete the sentence: Tú ___ en las elecciones. (future) A. habías votado B. votaron C. votasteis D. votarás
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en las elecciones. (conditional) A. votaríais B. votaría C. han votado D. votáramos
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en las elecciones. (present subjunctive) A. votaron B. votaba C. habíais votado D. vote
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ en las elecciones, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. votábamos B. votabais C. votara D. habríais votado
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en las elecciones. (present perfect) A. habremos votado B. hemos votado C. habíais votado D. habría votado
Complete the command: No ___ en las elecciones. (negative imperative, tú) A. votes B. vote C. votemos D. votéis
Which is the gerund of votar, used with estar for the progressive? A. votando B. voto C. voté D. votaré
Answer key
- voto — The yo present tense of votar is voto.
- votó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of votar is votó.
- votábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of votar is votábamos.
- votarás — The tú future of votar is votarás.
- votaría — The yo conditional of votar is votaría.
- vote — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of votar is vote.
- votara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of votar is votara.
- hemos votado — The nosotros/as present perfect of votar is hemos votado.
- votes — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: votes.
- votando — The gerund of votar is votando: estoy votando. The participle votado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does votar mean in English?
Votar means to vote. It is used in everyday situations such as Yo voto en las elecciones. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is votar regular?
Yes. Votar is a regular -ar verb: voto, votas, vota. The only thing to learn is the pattern of endings, which is the same for every regular -ar verb.
What is the gerund and the past participle of votar?
The gerund is votando, used with estar for the progressive: estoy votando. The past participle is votado, used with haber in the perfect tenses: he votado.
How do I say “I vote” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo voté por mi candidato. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: Cada cuatro años, yo votaba. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: Yo he votado en las elecciones.
How do I practise votar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the votar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Votar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for votar.
- Votar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for votar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Zumbar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with votar.
- Aliñar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with votar.
- Sazonar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with votar.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.
- Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.