Grid Fraction Problem: Find the Ratio of Shaded Squares to Total Area

Let's solve this problem step-by-step:

First, examine the grid and count the total number of sections. Observing the grid, there is a total of 6 columns, each representing equal-sized portions along the grid, as evidenced by vertical lines.

Next, count how many of these sections are colored. The entire portion from the first column to the fourth column is colored. This means we have 4 out of 6 sections that are marked red.

We can then express the colored area as a fraction: $\frac{4}{6}$.