show of hands
Visible voting method
A show of hands is a simple voting method where participants raise their hands to indicate agreement or preference: Let's have a show of hands—who wants pizza?
The phrase also describes the count itself: By a show of hands, the motion passed.
Quick and informal, it works for small groups but lacks the privacy of a ballot.
- ayeAffirmative vote
- voice voteOral yes-or-no tally
- nayNegative vote
- pollGathering of opinions
- voteFormal choice expression
ballot · quorum · visible · headcount · count noses · election · consensus · unanimous consent · motion carried · straw poll · abstention · acclamation · assembly · town hall · parliamentary procedure · tally · counting · raise
- group responsesconsensus, unanimous vote, group decision, chorus, unison
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- votesvote, ballot, yea, nay, aye
- board meetingsagenda, minutes, adjourn, adjournment, chairman
- caucusdelegates, delegate count, precinct, realignment, viability
- town meetingmoderator, selectmen, selectman, town clerk, appropriation
show of handssecret ballot
Confidential electoral choice
paper ballot · absentee ballot · mail-in vote · electronic voting · proxy vote
show, hand, handy, hands, shown, showing, handful, handwriting, shows