Voting methods (parliamentary)
Encyclopedia
Deliberative assemblies
- bodies that use parliamentary procedure
to arrive at decision
s - use several methods of voting
on motions
(formal proposal by a member or members of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action).
states that a voice vote
(viva voce) is the regular method of voting on any motion that does not require more than a majority vote for its adoption.
A simple rising vote (in which the number of members voting on each side are counted) is used principally in cases in which the chair believes a voice vote has been taken with an inconclusive result, or upon a motion to divide the assembly
. A rising vote is also the normal method of voting on motions requiring a two-thirds vote for adoption. It can also be used as the first method of voting only a majority vote is required, if the chair believes in advance that a voice vote will be inconclusive. The chair can also order the vote to be counted.
A show of hands
is an alternate to voice voting and can be used as the basic voting method in small boards or committees, and it is so used in some assemblies.
vote for the winning candidate in election
s for officers in which the assembly is physically gathered together. Robert's Rules of Order characterize preferential voting
as a "more complicated" system that "affords less freedom of choice than repeated balloting, because it denies voters the opportunity of basing their second or lesser choices on the results of earlier ballots, and because the candidate or proposition in last place is automatically eliminated and may thus be prevented from becoming a compromise choice.".
However, in cases in when the assembly cannot be gathered physically together, Robert's Rules of Order views preferential voting as superior to plurality voting
, noting, "In an international or national society where the election is conducted by mail ballot
, a plurality is sometimes allowed to elect officers, with a view to avoiding the delay and extra expense that would result from additional balloting under these conditions. A better method in such cases is for the bylaws to prescribe some form of preferential voting" and that "in such cases it makes possible a more representative result than under a rule that a plurality shall elect." Other alternative voting systems can only be used if the bylaws specifically authorize it.
Riddick's Rules of Procedure
states that preferential voting is "a complicated, time-consuming system susceptible to miscalculation–actually, a mathematical game. Tellers should be fully instructed in the selected voting method. There is no reason to use preferential voting except in a mail ballot, where it is expensive and impractical to reballot. Preferential voting may only be used if authorized in the bylaws, accompanied with detailed instructions for the method to be used."
to authorize cumulative voting. TSC similarly states, "Cumulative voting is not permitted unless specifically authorized in the bylaws," but has nothing else to say on it, beyond a brief description of how it works.
because they may prevent a compromise candidate from emerging. The book states, "The nominee receiving the lowest number of votes is never removed from the ballot unless the bylaws so require, or unless he withdraws – which, in the absence of such a bylaw, he is not obligated to do. The nominee in lowest place may turn out to be a "dark horse
" on whom all factions may prefer to agree".
in which a candidate who achieves the voting basis (usually a majority of votes cast) is elected; otherwise, voting is repeated, with no candidates involuntarily eliminated. In legislative and parliamentary procedure, this is usually the default system of voting. For instance, Mason's Manual notes, "In the absence of a special rule, a majority vote is necessary to elect officers and a plurality is not sufficient. A vote for the election of officers, when no candidate receives a majority vote, is of no effect, and the situation remains exactly as though no vote had been taken." And Robert's Rules of Order
states that neither alternate voting systems such as plurality, preferential, and cumulative voting nor elimination of last-place candidates is allowable unless stated in the bylaws; thus, if the bylaws say nothing, the assembly must use majority voting with repeated balloting. But even a plurality election can sometimes require repeated balloting; Demeter's Manual
notes, "The fact that a majority (or a plurality) of the votes are cast for an ineligible candidate does not entitle the candidate receiving 'the next highest number of votes' to be declared elected. In such case, the voters have failed to make a choice, and they proceed to vote again."
An advantage of this system is that it allows a dark horse
or compromise candidate, who received few votes in the first round, to become the candidate that opposing factions agree to settle on. Moreover, it can prevent a candidate who is opposed by the majority of the electorate from being elected, as might happen under plurality. A disadvantage is that if no one drops out of the race, and the voters are unwilling to switch sides, balloting can theoretically go on forever. The U.S. Presidential election of 1800 used repeated balloting and took 36 ballots to decide.
Between rounds of balloting, members can make motions to help the assembly complete the election within a reasonable time. For instance, the assembly may vote to drop the candidate having the lowest vote after each successive vote, or reopen nominations
for the office in order to secure a candidate on whom the majority can agree. This can help break a deadlock.
Deliberative assembly
A deliberative assembly is an organization comprising members who use parliamentary procedure to make decisions. In a speech to the electorate at Bristol in 1774, Edmund Burke described the English Parliament as a "deliberative assembly," and the expression became the basic term for a body of...
- bodies that use parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
to arrive at decision
Decision
A decision is the selection between possible actions.A choice is the selection between two or more objects.The term decision may refer to:* Judgment , as the outcome of a legal case...
s - use several methods of voting
Voting
Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies and republics.- Reasons for voting :...
on motions
Motion (parliamentary procedure)
In parliamentary procedure, a motion is a formal proposal by a member of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action. In a parliament, this is also called a parliamentary motion and includes legislative motions, budgetary motions, supplementary budgetary motions, and petitionary...
(formal proposal by a member or members of a deliberative assembly that the assembly take certain action).
Voice votes, rising votes (divisions) and shows of hands
Robert's Rules of OrderRobert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
states that a voice vote
Voice vote
A voice vote is a voting method used by deliberative assemblies in which a vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding verbally....
(viva voce) is the regular method of voting on any motion that does not require more than a majority vote for its adoption.
A simple rising vote (in which the number of members voting on each side are counted) is used principally in cases in which the chair believes a voice vote has been taken with an inconclusive result, or upon a motion to divide the assembly
Division (vote)
In parliamentary procedure, a division of the assembly is a voting method in which the members of the assembly take a rising vote or go to different parts of the chamber, literally dividing into groups indicating a vote in favour of or in opposition to a motion on the floor...
. A rising vote is also the normal method of voting on motions requiring a two-thirds vote for adoption. It can also be used as the first method of voting only a majority vote is required, if the chair believes in advance that a voice vote will be inconclusive. The chair can also order the vote to be counted.
A show of hands
Show of hands
A show of hands is a common voting method used in committees and other informal or small gatherings for voting. It is more precise than a voice vote but does not require members to leave their seats. However, it does not count as a division of the assembly, and is not always as effective as a...
is an alternate to voice voting and can be used as the basic voting method in small boards or committees, and it is so used in some assemblies.
Preferential voting
Robert's Rules of Order recommends the use of repeated balloting to obtain a majorityMajority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
vote for the winning candidate in election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s for officers in which the assembly is physically gathered together. Robert's Rules of Order characterize preferential voting
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
as a "more complicated" system that "affords less freedom of choice than repeated balloting, because it denies voters the opportunity of basing their second or lesser choices on the results of earlier ballots, and because the candidate or proposition in last place is automatically eliminated and may thus be prevented from becoming a compromise choice.".
However, in cases in when the assembly cannot be gathered physically together, Robert's Rules of Order views preferential voting as superior to plurality voting
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
, noting, "In an international or national society where the election is conducted by mail ballot
Postal voting
Postal voting describes the method of voting in an election whereby ballot papers are distributed or returned by post to electors, in contrast to electors voting in person at a polling station or electronically via an electronic voting system....
, a plurality is sometimes allowed to elect officers, with a view to avoiding the delay and extra expense that would result from additional balloting under these conditions. A better method in such cases is for the bylaws to prescribe some form of preferential voting" and that "in such cases it makes possible a more representative result than under a rule that a plurality shall elect." Other alternative voting systems can only be used if the bylaws specifically authorize it.
Riddick's Rules of Procedure
Riddick's Rules of Procedure
Riddick's Rules of Procedure is a parliamentary authority - a book explaining the parliamentary procedure, including the rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of the United States Senate. It was written by Floyd M. Riddick and co-authored by Miriam Butcher...
states that preferential voting is "a complicated, time-consuming system susceptible to miscalculation–actually, a mathematical game. Tellers should be fully instructed in the selected voting method. There is no reason to use preferential voting except in a mail ballot, where it is expensive and impractical to reballot. Preferential voting may only be used if authorized in the bylaws, accompanied with detailed instructions for the method to be used."
Cumulative voting discouraged
RONR states, "A minority group, by coordinating its effort in voting for only one candidate who is a member of the group, may be able to secure the election of that candidate as a minority member of the board. However, this method of voting, which permits a member to transfer votes, must be viewed with reservation since it violates a fundamental principle of parliamentary law". An assembly cannot suspend the rulesSuspend the rules
In parliamentary procedure, suspension of the rules is a procedure in which a deliberative assembly sets aside its normal rules of order in order to do something that it could not do otherwise.-Background and rationale:...
to authorize cumulative voting. TSC similarly states, "Cumulative voting is not permitted unless specifically authorized in the bylaws," but has nothing else to say on it, beyond a brief description of how it works.
Runoffs discouraged
RONR repeatedly discourages runoffsTwo-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
because they may prevent a compromise candidate from emerging. The book states, "The nominee receiving the lowest number of votes is never removed from the ballot unless the bylaws so require, or unless he withdraws – which, in the absence of such a bylaw, he is not obligated to do. The nominee in lowest place may turn out to be a "dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
" on whom all factions may prefer to agree".
- Impropriety of Limiting Voting in the Election to the Two Leading Candidates. In some organizations using the nominating ballot, an attempt is made to limit the voting on the electing ballot to the two nominees for each office receiving the highest number of votes on the nominating ballot. This – or any attempt to limit the number of candidates for an office to two, by whatever method they are nominated – is an unfortunate practice and should be avoided. Often the two leading candidates for a position will represent two different factions, and division within the organization may be deepened by limiting the election to them. On the other hand, it may be possible to unite the members if the assembly has the choice of a compromise candidate".
Electing multiple candidates
Candidates with the lowest vote count are eliminated until the number of candidates remaining is reduced to the number needed to fill the open positions.Repeated balloting
Repeated balloting is a voting systemVoting system
A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....
in which a candidate who achieves the voting basis (usually a majority of votes cast) is elected; otherwise, voting is repeated, with no candidates involuntarily eliminated. In legislative and parliamentary procedure, this is usually the default system of voting. For instance, Mason's Manual notes, "In the absence of a special rule, a majority vote is necessary to elect officers and a plurality is not sufficient. A vote for the election of officers, when no candidate receives a majority vote, is of no effect, and the situation remains exactly as though no vote had been taken." And Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order is the short title of a book containing rules of order intended to be adopted as a parliamentary authority for use by a deliberative assembly written by Brig. Gen...
states that neither alternate voting systems such as plurality, preferential, and cumulative voting nor elimination of last-place candidates is allowable unless stated in the bylaws; thus, if the bylaws say nothing, the assembly must use majority voting with repeated balloting. But even a plurality election can sometimes require repeated balloting; Demeter's Manual
Demeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure
thumb|right|125px| Demeter's ManualDemeter's Manual of Parliamentary Law and Procedure, by George Demeter, is a parliamentary authority manual. It is included in the bank of study materials used in preparing for the Certified Parliamentarian designation offered by the American Institute of...
notes, "The fact that a majority (or a plurality) of the votes are cast for an ineligible candidate does not entitle the candidate receiving 'the next highest number of votes' to be declared elected. In such case, the voters have failed to make a choice, and they proceed to vote again."
An advantage of this system is that it allows a dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
or compromise candidate, who received few votes in the first round, to become the candidate that opposing factions agree to settle on. Moreover, it can prevent a candidate who is opposed by the majority of the electorate from being elected, as might happen under plurality. A disadvantage is that if no one drops out of the race, and the voters are unwilling to switch sides, balloting can theoretically go on forever. The U.S. Presidential election of 1800 used repeated balloting and took 36 ballots to decide.
Between rounds of balloting, members can make motions to help the assembly complete the election within a reasonable time. For instance, the assembly may vote to drop the candidate having the lowest vote after each successive vote, or reopen nominations
Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls
Motions relating to methods of voting and the polls, in parliamentary procedure, are incidental motions used to obtain a vote on a question in some form other than by voice or by division of the assembly; or to close or reopen the polls. For instance, a motion can be made to cast votes using black...
for the office in order to secure a candidate on whom the majority can agree. This can help break a deadlock.