Legal Definitions - vote

A vote is a formal expression of an individual's choice, preference, or opinion, typically made within a group, organization, or electorate. It can refer to the individual act of making this choice, the choice itself, or the collective tally of such choices.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a vote:

• Imagine a local school board meeting where parents and community members are deciding on a new curriculum. After a presentation and open discussion, the board asks attendees to raise their hands to indicate whether they approve or disapprove of the proposed changes.

  Each raised hand represents an individual's vote on the curriculum. The total count of hands raised for "approve" versus "disapprove" determines the overall vote of the community on the matter. The act of raising one's hand is to vote.

• Consider a large company holding its annual shareholder meeting. Shareholders are asked to elect new members to the board of directors and approve certain financial proposals. They do this by submitting proxy ballots or casting their choices electronically.

  Each shareholder's submitted ballot, indicating their selections for directors and their stance on the proposals, constitutes their individual vote. The company then tallies all these individual expressions to determine the final vote count for each candidate and proposal, thereby reflecting the collective will of the shareholders.

• During a national talent competition, viewers are encouraged to support their favorite performer by sending text messages or using a dedicated app. Each text or app submission registers a preference for a specific contestant.

  Each text message or app submission counts as a vote for a particular performer. The contestant who receives the highest number of these individual expressions of support, or the most votes, progresses to the next round or wins the competition. Viewers vote by sending their texts or using the app.