The top level domain (TLD) “.voto” was introduced in 2012 as part of a significant expansion of the Internet’s domain name system, led by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Recognizing the increasing expansion and importance of the Internet, ICANN proposed the expansion of new generic top level domains (gTLDs) beyond the original ones like .com, .org, .net, etc., and started allowing entities to register a wide range of new gTLDs.
The .voto domain extension is a domain dedicated to voting. “Voto” means “vote” in several languages, including Spanish, Galician, Italian and Portuguese, thus reaching a multinational audience. This domain extension is managed by Afilias, a leading domain registry operator that manages a wide variety of top level domains.
The purpose of the .voto extension is to provide a dedicated and easily identifiable place on the web for voting-related resources, services, and information, as well as to facilitate communication and engagement around political and electoral processes. The use of .voto domain names is also intended to help counter misinformation by providing a clearly designated virtual space where accurate and reliable voting information can be found.
For instance, a government agency involved in managing elections could use a .voto domain for their website to offer transparent, accessible, and reliable information about voting procedures, candidates, and results. Political campaigns, electoral reform organizations, polling companies, political analysts, and others involved in voting and elections could also use .voto domains to establish their identity on the Internet and help Internet users quickly and easily find their resources.
The .voto domains are registered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to certain eligibility requirements and policies established by Afilias and ICANN. Information about these requirements and policies can be found on the websites of Afilias and ICANN, as well as on the websites of various domain registrars that offer .voto domain registration services.
As a new and distinctive extension in the virtual world, .voto has the potential to play an important role in furthering democratic processes by promoting greater access to information and resources related to voting and elections.
References:
- Afilias. (2022). Domain Details: .VOTO. Retrieved from https://www.afilias.info/what-we-do/top-level-domains/list-all-domains/voto
- ICANN. (2012). New gTLD Program. Retrieved from https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program
(Note: Given the dynamic and evolving nature of the Internet, the information provided above about the .voto TLD may be subject to change over time. Always refer to the most recent and reliable sources for the latest and most accurate information about .voto and other top level domains.)
