voice votes
Spoken yeas, nays
A voice vote is a method of voting where a group calls out "aye" or "no" collectively, with the presiding officer judging which side sounds louder.
Common in legislative bodies for routine or uncontroversial matters: The motion passed on a voice vote.
Voice votes are quick but imprecise—they don't produce a formal count or record of individual positions.
- nayNegative vote
- ayeAffirmative vote
- acclamationEnthusiastic public praise
- majorityOver half of total
- unanimous consentComplete agreement by all
floor debate · presiding officer · consensus · legislative · dissent · quorum · filibuster · viva voce · cloture · assembly · senate · decisions · democracy · point of order · special sessions · reconciliation process · poll · ballot
- Senatesenate seat, Senate floor, senior senator, Senate chamber, confirmation hearings
- parliamentary procedurestanding orders, motions, quorum rules, divisions, debate rules
- legislationbills, acts, laws, statutes, bill
voice votessecret ballots
Concealed electoral choices
roll call votes · paper ballots · electronic voting · show of hands
voice, vote, voices, votes, voiced, voicing, voiceless, vocal, vocalize