yeas and nays
Roll call answers
Yeas and nays are votes for and against a proposal, especially in a legislative body where members voice their votes aloud: The clerk will now call the roll for yeas and nays.
The phrase also refers broadly to the arguments on both sides of any question: We debated the yeas and nays of moving to a new city.
- roll callAttendance-taking procedure
- floor voteLegislators voting together formally
- ballotVoting document
- pollGathering of opinions
- up or downBinary vertical options
approval · referendum · dissent · noes · amendment · abstention · casting vote · objection · ayes · minority · resolution · affirmation · negation · tally · filibuster · quorum · parliamentary procedure · endorsement
yeas and naysabstentions
Formal refusals to vote
abstaining · present · silence · recusals · absences
yeas and naysvoice vote
Oral yes-or-no tally
acclamation · unanimous consent · show of hands · consensus · straw poll
yeas and naysabstentions
Formal refusals to vote
fence-sitting · indecision · neutrality · hedging · equivocation