What does voted mean?
Voted is the past tense and past participle of vote, the usual word for expressing a choice in an election, a meeting, a jury, or another formal decision. It can mean simply that a person cast a ballot, as in “The members voted unanimously.” In a broader sense, it refers to a decision made by a majority or another authorized group, such as accepting a proposal or choosing a candidate. It can also describe someone selected through voting: “She was voted chair of the committee.” Because “voted” records the completed act of casting or making a vote, it often appears in reporting, legislation, civic discussion, and everyday accounts of elections. The word is neutral rather than partisan, though its context can make it sound political or institutional. Together with forms such as voting and voter, it forms part of the central vocabulary of democratic decision-making, where individual preferences are expressed collectively and converted into a group decision.
To cast a vote, express a choice, or make a decision through voting.
"The delegates voted to approve the new policy."
The verb is standard in both formal and informal contexts and can describe elections, legislative decisions, jury verdicts, and group choices.
Having been selected, approved, or authorized through a vote.
"The voted members take office at the annual meeting."
This use is less common than elected and most often describes a person or measure formally chosen or approved by vote.
One small ballot can settle an election, but a collective vote can transform an entire community.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How voted is actually used
The word is neutral and standard in formal and informal English. As a verb, it can take a candidate, position, measure, or question as its object. Its participial use is less common than the corresponding forms “elected” and “approved” and is most natural when describing a person or measure selected through a vote.
Easily confused with voted
To vote is to express a choice or approve by ballot, whereas to veto is to reject or block a proposal.