VOTES AND

VOTING
Importance Of Votes
All matters brought before the assembly can be properly disposed of
only by the vote of the members.

It is customary for organizations to provide in their constitution or

by-laws the kind of vote necessary for the disposition of certain
important questions, and for this purpose they generally require a
majority vote.
Classes Of Votes
Majority vote
Percentage vote
Plurality vote
Tie vote
Unanimous vote
Majority Vote
Term is variable and may mean any of the following, depending
upon the rules of the organization or the will of the assembly:
1. Majority of the legal votes
2. Majority of the total votes cast
3. Majority of the members present
4. Majority of all the members
Majority Vote
Illustration: in an organization of 300 members in which the quorum
required is a majority of the entire membership (151), if 220 are present
and only 200 of them voted on a question, 10 votes are declared illegal,
the majority will be as follow:
1. Legal votes (200 minus 10, divided by 2 plus 1) = 96
2. Total votes (200 divided by 2 plus 1) = 101
3. Members present (220 divided by 2 plus 1) = 111
4. All members (300 divided by 2 plus 1) = 151
Percentage Vote
Means the proportion of a certain whole
Rate of proportion depends entirely upon the will of the
organization, depending upon the importance of the question under
consideration.
The basis for the computation may also vary as in the case of the
majority vote.
Common parliamentary practice prescribes a two-thirds vote
Plurality Vote
 Means a vote larger by at least one over the total vote of any other candidate or
proposition
 It is customarily used when there are more than two candidates or propositions to be voted
upon in which case he one receiving the largest number of votes is said to have a plurality
 Example:
Juan Santos – 17 votes
Virginia Ramos – 26 votes
Erlinda Reyes – 25 votes
Total votes cast - 68
Tie Vote
 Occurs when two or more candidates or propositions each receive the same number of the
highest vote thus creating a deadlock
 HOW TO BREAK A TIE (Presiding officer can break or create a tie):
1. If 12-12 resulting in loss of motion, he may vote in the affirmative but not negative
2. If 13 (Affirmative) – 12 (Negative), he may vote in the negative to create a tie to defend
motion
3. In percentage vote, he may vote with minority to prevent motion, or vote with majority to
adopt motion
4. In case of appeal, he can vote in affirmative to create tie and sustain own decision
Unanimous Vote
Results when a candidate or a proposition obtains the total number
of the legal or valid votes cast
When a successful candidate or proposition receives a vote other
than a unanimous one, the same may be made unanimous either
through general consent or a formal motion.
Illegal Votes, Void and Blank Vote
A vote cast for an ineligible candidate, or by an ineligible member,
or which, for any like reason, cannot be counted, is an illegal vote
Blank ballots, however, although they cannot be counted for or
against as a vote, may be included in the computation for
determining the presence of quorum
When two or more ballots are folded together, all should be rejected
as void and reported as one fraudulent vote
Putting the Question
The act of taking the vote on a question
A question may be voted upon on immediately after it is stated by the
Chair as soon as debate or discussion on it is closed, depending upon
its debatability
The Chair, before taking the vote, should ask: “Are you ready for the
question?”
If no one rises to claim the floor, the Chair proceeds to take the vote
unless interrupted by some high-precedent motion
Putting the Question
To avoid misunderstanding and consequent disruption of the
proceedings, the presiding officer, before taking the vote, should
make sure that the members understand correctly what they are
voting on
When the vote is being taken, members should refrain from talking
to one another or from standing or walking around the hall to insure
accuracy in the determination or counting of the votes
Methods Of Voting
1. By voice
2. Show of hands
3. Rising
4. Roll call
5. General consent
6. By ballot
7. Absentee voting
8. Cumulative voting
By voice
Viva voce, most expeditious method of voting and is generally used
except where a more accurate count of the votes is called for
A voice vote is practical for questions requiring only a majority vote
and in large assemblies

“As many as are in favor of the motion, say ‘Aye’…Those against,

say ‘No’.”
Show Of Hands
Consists of raising of the right hand, first by those in favor of the
question, then by those voting against it

“Those in favor of the motion, please raise your right hand… Hands
down. Those against, please do the same… Hands down.”
Roll Call
Also known as the voting of the Yeas and Nays/ Ayes and Noes
It can be seen that the purpose of the roll call vote is to record how each
member votes on a question for the benefit of those to whom he is
answerable
A vote by roll call can only be ordered by a majority vote of the assembly
without debate
“Those in favor of the question before the assembly will as their names are
called, please say Aye; those against, please say No. the secretary will now
call the roll.”
General Consent
It connotes unanimity of opinion
Questions are decided without the formality of actually taking the
vote
May be adopted under two general circumstances:
1. Where the Chair may dispose of a business by assuming his action to
be acceptable to all members
2. A motion appears to be generally favored and the Chair feels certain
about its acceptability to members
Ballot
Principal purpose of this method is secrecy
Commonly used in the election of candidates to office and deciding
certain questions where some may not wish to reveal their vote
When voting through ballot, no motion which would serve to defeat
its object of secrecy may be entertained
Absentee Voting
Practice of allowing absent members to vote
Two ways of voting in absentia:
1. By mail
-a letter is sent to the absent voter, and he must return the letter in a sealed
envelope
2. Proxy method
-through a power of attorney, another person will represent the absentee
Cumulative Voting
Principally designed to protect the interest of minority groups
Applicable when there are two or more officers of the same category
to be filled
The voter may either distribute his vote among different candidates
or he may cast all of them in favor of only one aspirant
Filling Blanks
When several names or propositions are offered for the
consideration of the assembly, each item is treated and voted upon
independently
This method is commonly used when making nominations for an
office or when offering propositions related to a question pending
before the assembly
Announcing the Vote
Result of any voting is not official until announced by the Chair
Presiding officer should announce the result of a vote as soon as he
has determined the prevailing side, mentioning whether the motion
has been carried or lost, and its corresponding effect
Announcing the Vote
1. If the vote is simply estimated and by viva voce, show of hands, or
rising: “The motion is carried/lost (The Ayes/Noes have it).
2. If an exact count is required, or vote is taken by roll call or ballot:
“There are ?? votes in favor and ?? against. The motion is
carried/lost.”
3. If a percentage is taken: “There are ?? In favor and ?? Against.
There being in favor/failure to obtain a two-thirds of members
present, the motion is carried/lost.”
Other Matters
Reopening of Polls
-if a member failed to vote due to late arrival or some other valid reason,
he may be allowed to vote through a motion to reopen the polls
Change of vote
-no change of vote is permitted except when there is a clear proof of
some error that logically warrants such changes