Let's find out how voting works. Voting is how people get a say. They get a say in what happens in their city, state or country. The word democracy means rule by the people. It comes from Greek words. Here is how it goes.

First, who gets the votes? People vote for candidates. The candidates hold local, state and national positions. Next, who can vote? In the United States, a citizen who is 18 or older can vote. This is true as of February 2026.

Here is the next part. In almost every state, people register to vote first. North Dakota does not require it. This is true as of February 2026. The right to vote has its own name. It is called suffrage. Now we get to the day.

On Election Day, many people go to a polling place to vote. That is not the only way. As of November 2026, many states let people vote in person before Election Day. Some people vote by mail. Some drop off a ballot. They do it before Election Day. Many votes are decided by a simple majority.

Words to know

• democracy: rule by people
• register: sign up
• suffrage: right to vote