The Bharatiya Janata Party recently emerged victorious in the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh, securing a win with only 25 MLAs in the 68-member Assembly. The party’s success hinged on cross-voting by Congress members and a fortunate draw of lots. Amidst concerns from the Congress, the Leader of the Opposition and other BJP MLAs met with the Himachal Governor today, pressing for a division of votes during the Budget session rather than a simple voice vote.
Division Voting vs Voice Vote
The ideas of using division and voice votes were taken from the British Parliament.
Division Voting
Division voting is a formal and individual voting method used in legislative bodies to determine the support or opposition of each member on a particular issue. When a division vote is called, members physically separate into different areas based on their stance – typically “Ayes” (in favour) on one side and “Noes” (against) on the other. This process allows for a transparent and precise tally of votes, providing clarity on individual positions. The results of a division vote reveal not only the overall outcome but also the specific count of supporters and opponents.
Voice Vote
Voice vote, on the other hand, is a less formal and quicker method of voting. When a voice vote is called, members verbally express their support or opposition by saying “Aye” or “No” as a collective group. The presiding officer then judges the volume of the responses to determine the outcome. Voice votes are often used for routine or non-controversial matters where a clear majority is expected, and a detailed count is not deemed necessary. However, this method lacks the precision and transparency provided by a division vote.
A quick advantage of a voice vote is its speed, but the downside is that it can be inaccurate since it depends on who is louder.
Parliamentary rules dictate that if any member challenges a voice vote, the speaker must call for a division vote.
