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Ella revisa la boleta antes de votar.

Ella revisa la boleta antes de votar.
She checks the ballot before voting.
FromLesson 23inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Breakdown of Ella revisa la boleta antes de votar.

ella
she
antes de
before
revisar
to check
votar
to vote
la boleta
the ballot

Questions & Answers about Ella revisa la boleta antes de votar.

Why is revisa in the present tense? Could I use revisó instead?
In Spanish the simple present (revisa) can describe an action happening right now, a habitual step or part of a procedure. Here it shows what she does before voting (either in that moment or as a routine). If you say Ella revisó la boleta antes de votar, you’re placing the action in the past, so it sounds like you’re narrating a completed event rather than describing her current or habitual checking.
Why isn’t there a que after antes de? Shouldn’t it be antes de que vote?

When the subject of both clauses is the same, Spanish uses antes de + infinitive (votar). You only add que + subjunctive when the subjects differ.
Example with different subjects:
Ella revisa la boleta antes de que su esposo vote.

What does boleta mean? Is it the same as papeleta?
Boleta means “ballot” (the paper you mark when you vote). In most Latin American countries boleta is the standard term; in places like Argentina or Uruguay you might also hear papeleta. Both refer to the voting paper.
Why is Ella included? Can I say Revisa la boleta antes de votar?
Yes. Spanish is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -a in revisa already indicates “she.” You add Ella only for emphasis or to avoid ambiguity (for instance, if you’d just been talking about someone else).
Can I move antes de votar to the beginning: Antes de votar, ella revisa la boleta?
Absolutely. Spanish word order is flexible, especially for time expressions. Starting with Antes de votar simply puts more emphasis on the timing.
How do I say “She checks it before voting” without repeating la boleta?

Use the feminine singular direct-object pronoun la in place of la boleta:
Ella la revisa antes de votar.

Could revisar be reflexive here (i.e. revisarse la boleta)?
No, revisar is transitive when you check something external. Revisarse usually means “to inspect oneself” (as in a medical exam). To say “check the ballot,” use revisar without a reflexive pronoun.
Are there synonyms for revisar in this context?

Yes, you could also say:

  • comprobar la boleta
  • verificar la boleta
  • chequear la boleta (informal)
    All mean “to check” or “to verify” the ballot before voting.
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“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

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