Voice Vote in Parliament

A voice vote is a method by which Parliament decides a question through the collectively spoken responses of members rather than by recording each member's vote. Members supporting the proposal say “Aye”, those opposing it say “No”, and the presiding officer assesses which side is stronger.

Procedure in the House

After debate, the Speaker in the Lok Sabha or the Chairman or presiding member in the Rajya Sabha puts the question before the House.

• Members in favour respond “Aye”, while members against respond “No”.
• The presiding officer judges the relative strength of the responses and declares that the Ayes or the Noes have it.
• If this declaration is not challenged, the decision becomes final without recording the number or identity of voters.
• Voice voting may be used for motions, amendments, clauses of a bill and other questions put to the House.

When the result is challenged

If a member challenges the presiding officer's opinion, the question may be determined through a division, which ascertains the votes more formally.

• Votes may be recorded through the House's voting system or another procedure permitted by its rules.
• Where a division is considered unnecessarily claimed, the rules allow the presiding officer to ask supporting and opposing members to rise and determine the result by counting them.
• Unlike a division, a voice vote ordinarily produces neither an exact numerical tally nor an individual voting record.

Constitutional basis

Under Article 100, questions in either House are ordinarily decided by a majority of members present and voting, subject to contrary constitutional provisions. The presiding officer does not vote in the first instance but has a casting vote when votes are equally divided.

• A voice vote is a procedural means of determining whether the required majority supports the question; it does not alter the applicable constitutional majority.

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