> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dot-alert.gitbook.io/dot.alert/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dot-alert.gitbook.io/dot.alert/content/3.operations/voting.md).

# Voting

Direct and indirect voting operations for on-chain governance in the Polkadot ecosystem.

Voting is the decision-making power given to all DOT token holders in the Polkadot ecosystem. Principally, partaking in on-chain governance means using/locking tokens to vote for or against proposed changes to current network operations. 

Every token holder has the opportunity to: 

* [vote directly](/dot.alert/content/3.operations/voting/direct-democracy.md) on OpenGov referenda
* [delegate their voting power](/dot.alert/content/3.operations/voting/democracy-delegation.md) to someone else

<figure><img src="https://2458985513-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FL6ALv1GyPrgErCsK1L2I%2Fuploads%2FFlABdiZ4kPyTnLR4b71L%2FO_VPolkadotOpenGov.PNG?alt=media&amp;token=2b0cd88f-a1a3-42a8-b54c-dbf4fe6639ec" alt="Polkadot OpenGov gives token holders the power to decide on the direction of the network."><figcaption><p><a href="https://polkadot.network/features/opengov/">Polkadot OpenGov</a> gives the decision-making power of the network to token holders.</p></figcaption></figure>