VOTA (formerly known as Casting Pearls) is a Christian rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska. Casting Pearls was formed by Bryan Olesen and bass guitarist Case Maranville in 1997 when they joined drummer Shane Coop. After a few lineup changes, the band solidified in 2003 to include Olesen, Maranville, and drummer Scott Rutz. In July 2003, the band met Peter Furler of the Newsboys which led to Olesen's tenure as lead guitarist for the Newsboys from 2003 to early 2006 and the self-titled release on Furler's Inpop Records of the self-titled album Casting Pearls in 2005.

In 2008, the band changed its name to VOTA due to confusion with the group Casting Crowns. Originally, the name VOTA was a typo in an email from VOTA's then-current management team, Chaffee Management, as the band, management, and label were brainstorming new names. The name VOTA was ultimately chosen by the band as being without a specific meaning and having a bit of mystery to it, allowing their fans to individually interpret the meaning. In summer 2008, while performing at an Oklahoma summer camp, the band discovered the name does have a spiritual meaning. Vota is a Latin root word that stands for a collection of vows before God.

The band released their self-titled album VOTA in 2008, which included the hit song "Hard To Believe." By working with USAID, VOTA was able to raise over $210,000 for Food For The Hungry's project in Kenya through sales of their album.

A third studio album and campaign, both entitled Love Found Me, were launched in 2013. Love Found Me was a campaign in collaboration with the non-profit organization Tiny Hands International to fight human trafficking in India and Nepal. In a non-traditional sense, the band decided to give away this album for free by having fans visit http://www.lovefoundme.org. Before getting the album, fans must watch a video about human trafficking and this campaign, and then have the option to attain a second bonus album by donating any amount of money to Tiny Hands International.

In 2016, VOTA released their album Fearless in partnership with Food for the Hungry (FH). Proceeds will support three poverty-stricken communities in Nicaragua.