Voting methods in deliberative assemblies

[4] A show of hands is a method of public voting, often used in small boards, committees or also informal gatherings, or some larger assemblies.

However, it is not a full division of the assembly, and can produce a larger number of abstentions than a rising vote.

At no point are any candidates involuntarily eliminated, as they would under instant-runoff voting or the exhaustive ballot.

Mason's Manual states, "In the absence of a special rule, a majority vote is necessary to elect officers and a plurality is not sufficient.

[10] Moreover, it can prevent a candidate who is opposed by the majority of the electorate from being elected, as might happen under plurality.

[11] 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.

[12] Between rounds of balloting, members can make motions to help the assembly complete the election within a reasonable time.

The nominee in lowest place may turn out to be a 'dark horse' on whom all factions may prefer to agree".

Likewise, proxy voting is generally prohibited, except in situations in which membership is transferable, as in stock corporations and even then, only by authorization in the bylaws.

In the various types of legislative assemblies (comitia) of the Roman Republic, the voting was preceded by a contio (public meeting at which issues or candidates were presented).

[23] In 1869, Thomas Edison filed for a patent on the first electric vote recorder, and demonstrated the system to the United States Congress.

[24] Over the next 84 years, fifty bills and resolutions to establish an automatic, electrical, mechanical, or electronic voting system in Congress were introduced.

[24] Under the system implemented in the 1970s, members of the House may vote at any one of a number of stations located throughout the chamber.

[24] To cast a vote, the representative inserts the card into the station in any direction and presses one of three buttons: "Yea," "Nay," or "Present.

"[24] The representative's vote is then displayed in two summary panels above the press gallery seats and to the right and left of the speaker's dais.

The updates enabled in-progress voting counts to be displayed on the closed-circuit TV system.

[25] One variation of a voice vote is for the presiding officer to state: "Without objection the amendment [bill, resolution, motion, etc.]

[25][26] In December 2013, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that he would not be opposed to setting up an electronic system similar to that used in the House, but also stated that he didn't see any change occurring "in the near future".

[26] Use of an electronic system would make it possible for the Senate to vote more quickly during "vote-a-rama" sessions on amendments to budget resolutions.

The resolution was sponsored by Democratic Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia.

Fourteen chambers use a traditional manual roll-call system in which the clerk calls the roll orally, records each member's vote on paper, and then tallies the ayes and nays.

[31] In the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster), at the close of debate, the presiding officer of the chamber—the Speaker of the House of Commons or the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords—"puts the motion" by asking members to call out their votes, typically saying "As many as are of that opinion, say 'aye'".

[32][33] As members pass through the lobbies, clerks record their names and they are counted by tellers.

[32][33] Some votes are "deferred" and instead conducted by means of an open ballot done at a convenient time for members.

[33] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lords now vote electronically but members must be physically present in Parliament in order to do so, unless special dispensation is obtained.

By contrast, the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), Senedd and States of Jersey use electronic voting systems.

If the show of hands leads to a doubtful result, the vote is taken by standing and sitting.

Electronic voting systems are installed in each of the European Parliament's two locations: Strasbourg and Brussels.