Voto vs. votación

'Voto' and 'votación' are Spanish terms that refer to the concept of voting, a fundamental mechanism in democracies for making decisions or electing representatives. Although related, they are used in different contexts and have different nuances of meaning.

Voto

'Voto' refers to an individual's vote or ballot—the act of expressing a choice or preference in a decision-making process, or the physical manifestation of that choice (as in a paper ballot). It can also mean a pledge or promise in non-electoral contexts.
El voto electrónico es cada vez más común en las elecciones modernas.
(Electronic voting is becoming more common in modern elections.)
Cada voto es importante para decidir el resultado de la elección.
(Every vote is important for determining the outcome of the election.)
Hizo un voto de silencio durante la meditación.
(They made a vow of silence during meditation.)

Votación

'Votación' refers to the process of voting or an instance of this process. It includes all aspects of voting, including the act itself and the collective counting and recording of votes within a group or population.
La votación para elegir al nuevo presidente durará ocho horas.
(The voting to elect the new president will last eight hours.)
La votación fue transparente y estuvo bien organizada.
(The voting was transparent and well organized.)
Después de una larga votación, el proyecto de ley fue aprobado.
(After a long vote, the bill was passed.)

Summary

While both 'voto' and 'votación' refer to voting, 'voto' focuses on the individual action or commitment, while 'votación' encompasses the broader collective process. Understanding their specific uses helps to clarify discussions about democratic practices and decision-making processes.