Voting in the Senate: Forms and Requirements (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Feb. 20, 2001 |
| Report Number |
98-227GOV |
| Authors |
Walter J. Oleszek |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Voting is among the most important public acts of individual Senators. For example,
Senators recognize that their decisions often need to be explained to constituents who are
interested in knowing why lawmakers voted as they did on various measures or matters.
Party leaders, too, understand the importance of voting, for they often try to schedule
votes during a time when they believe they can win senatorialsupport for their objectives.
That Senators try never to miss votes is reflected in the high percentage of rollcall votes
that they cast. On all recorded votes taken in the chamber, Senators, on average, cast
votes over 95 percent of the time.
There are three ways of voting in the Senate: voice, division, and yea and nay (also
called rollcall or recorded) votes. Neither voice nor division votes are recognized in the
rules of the Senate. Instead, they are permitted by precedent. Senate Rule XII outlines
voting procedure in the chamber and explicitly identifies “the yeas and nays.”
