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What is the third option beside 'accept' and 'reject' on a ballot?
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Members of Parliament (MPs) in most countries have three options while voting for a law proposal. The third option means neither 'accept' nor 'reject', but recorded for quorum.
- 'Accept'
- 'Reject'
- 'Abstain' or 'Neither' or else?
My web search returned 'abstain' and 'neither', but I'm not sure if they are officially used expressions in any English-spoken country.
What expression can be used as a third option on a ballot?
expression-choice expression-requests
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
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up vote
15
down vote
favorite
Members of Parliament (MPs) in most countries have three options while voting for a law proposal. The third option means neither 'accept' nor 'reject', but recorded for quorum.
- 'Accept'
- 'Reject'
- 'Abstain' or 'Neither' or else?
My web search returned 'abstain' and 'neither', but I'm not sure if they are officially used expressions in any English-spoken country.
What expression can be used as a third option on a ballot?
expression-choice expression-requests
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
6
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
1
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
1
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
15
down vote
favorite
up vote
15
down vote
favorite
Members of Parliament (MPs) in most countries have three options while voting for a law proposal. The third option means neither 'accept' nor 'reject', but recorded for quorum.
- 'Accept'
- 'Reject'
- 'Abstain' or 'Neither' or else?
My web search returned 'abstain' and 'neither', but I'm not sure if they are officially used expressions in any English-spoken country.
What expression can be used as a third option on a ballot?
expression-choice expression-requests
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
Members of Parliament (MPs) in most countries have three options while voting for a law proposal. The third option means neither 'accept' nor 'reject', but recorded for quorum.
- 'Accept'
- 'Reject'
- 'Abstain' or 'Neither' or else?
My web search returned 'abstain' and 'neither', but I'm not sure if they are officially used expressions in any English-spoken country.
What expression can be used as a third option on a ballot?
expression-choice expression-requests
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
asked Sep 5 at 14:19
ahmedus
279312
279312
Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
6
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
1
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
1
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45
 |Â
show 1 more comment
Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
6
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
1
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
1
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45
Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
6
6
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
1
1
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
1
1
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45
 |Â
show 1 more comment
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
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up vote
27
down vote
accepted
"Abstain," as you suggest, is widely-understood, at least in the UK.
See this Sky News article on the EU withdrawal bill which includes:
However, there were still rebels among Labour and Tory MPs, along with some notable abstentions.
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
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"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
12
down vote
You specified MPs, but then asked for "any English spoken country". In the US Congress (and generally in the USA), legislative votes are typically recorded as "Yea" (yes/for passage), "Nay" (no/against passage) or "Present".
For example, this link is for the most recent set of votes in Congress of type Yea and Nay.
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
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2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
The term Abstention sounds best here, as you suggested abstain; it denotes:
an instance of declining to vote for or against a
proposal or motion.
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
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It's not political representatives as you asked, but a similar example that may be interesting is the procedure used (in US) for voting by stockholders of a publicly-owned company, usually at an annual meeting, but occasionally at a special meeting called to consider a merger or similar.
Shares can be voted explicitly yes/for, no/against, or abstain/withhold at these events. However, many shares are "held in street name", meaning they are registered as "owned" by the stockbroker who bought them on behalf a client who is the true "beneficial" owner; this allows purchases and sales to be done electronically which is quick and cheap rather than having to carry or mail paper certificates as was formerly done. (I'm old enough to remember my father in the 1970s doing that.) Since the broker is only a custodian of these shares, it must vote them as instructed by the client -- and if the client doesn't give instructions, as they often don't, the broker is permitted by regulations to vote on matters classified as "routine", which are now few, but not anything else. Shares not voted for this reason are in a fourth status called "broker non-votes" and depending on the company bylaws and corporation law for its state these non-votes sometimes count the same as abstentions but sometimes are treated differently.
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
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Absention is the most commonly used term.
However, in the UK parliament, you can't actually vote abstain (or similar).
When MPs vote, they 'divide' into the yes lobby or the no lobby, where their vote is recorded. If you don't want to vote yes or no, you stay in the chamber (or, you don't show up at the Commons at all).
Small and weird caveat: you can vote yes and no! https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/boths.php
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
add a comment |Â
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
27
down vote
accepted
"Abstain," as you suggest, is widely-understood, at least in the UK.
See this Sky News article on the EU withdrawal bill which includes:
However, there were still rebels among Labour and Tory MPs, along with some notable abstentions.
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
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EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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10
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
27
down vote
accepted
"Abstain," as you suggest, is widely-understood, at least in the UK.
See this Sky News article on the EU withdrawal bill which includes:
However, there were still rebels among Labour and Tory MPs, along with some notable abstentions.
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
New contributor
EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
10
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
27
down vote
accepted
up vote
27
down vote
accepted
"Abstain," as you suggest, is widely-understood, at least in the UK.
See this Sky News article on the EU withdrawal bill which includes:
However, there were still rebels among Labour and Tory MPs, along with some notable abstentions.
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
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EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
"Abstain," as you suggest, is widely-understood, at least in the UK.
See this Sky News article on the EU withdrawal bill which includes:
However, there were still rebels among Labour and Tory MPs, along with some notable abstentions.
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
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EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
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answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
answered Sep 5 at 15:26
EightAndAHalfTails
41014
41014
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EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
EightAndAHalfTails is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
10
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
 |Â
show 5 more comments
10
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
10
10
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
"Abstain" is, in my experience in the US, the word most likely to be used formally for "choose not to vote" such as in the context presented in this question. Various specific instances of voting might have special terms (such as "Present" mentioned in another answer), but the general public is less likely to be familiar with them and they aren't universally applicable.
– Kamil Drakari
Sep 5 at 16:07
4
4
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
@KamilDrakari I agree with Kamil. As an American, I would understand "abstain" as not recording a vote at all, not recording "Abstain"
– Azor Ahai
Sep 5 at 16:39
1
1
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
@AzorAhai that's correct, but I think the OP is getting at, for the vote to be valid at all there must be a quorum, i.e. a minimum number of members present. So there is a difference between not voting, and not voting while present to vote.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:25
2
2
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
I believe in the US the term is "present".
– Ben
Sep 5 at 17:26
3
3
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
@Ben "present" is the term used in Congress. Other levels of government may use different terms. Local governments in my area generally use "abstain," for example.
– Justin Lardinois
Sep 5 at 20:23
 |Â
show 5 more comments
up vote
12
down vote
You specified MPs, but then asked for "any English spoken country". In the US Congress (and generally in the USA), legislative votes are typically recorded as "Yea" (yes/for passage), "Nay" (no/against passage) or "Present".
For example, this link is for the most recent set of votes in Congress of type Yea and Nay.
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
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pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
You specified MPs, but then asked for "any English spoken country". In the US Congress (and generally in the USA), legislative votes are typically recorded as "Yea" (yes/for passage), "Nay" (no/against passage) or "Present".
For example, this link is for the most recent set of votes in Congress of type Yea and Nay.
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
New contributor
pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
up vote
12
down vote
You specified MPs, but then asked for "any English spoken country". In the US Congress (and generally in the USA), legislative votes are typically recorded as "Yea" (yes/for passage), "Nay" (no/against passage) or "Present".
For example, this link is for the most recent set of votes in Congress of type Yea and Nay.
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
New contributor
pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You specified MPs, but then asked for "any English spoken country". In the US Congress (and generally in the USA), legislative votes are typically recorded as "Yea" (yes/for passage), "Nay" (no/against passage) or "Present".
For example, this link is for the most recent set of votes in Congress of type Yea and Nay.
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
New contributor
pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
edited Sep 5 at 20:39
Reginald Blue
1574
1574
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
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pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
2293
answered Sep 5 at 14:56
pboss3010
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2293
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pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
pboss3010 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
add a comment |Â
2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
2
2
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
This is correct as far as it goes, but isn't comprehensive. The fact is that "any English spoken country" includes both US and "Commonwealth" (more parliamentary than the US separation-of-powers model) traditions. I suspect that "abstain" covers much of what "Present" does not.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:32
4
4
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
@Monty pboss might have taken any to mean ‘pick one’, rather than ‘for all’.
– Lawrence
Sep 6 at 0:13
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
The term Abstention sounds best here, as you suggested abstain; it denotes:
an instance of declining to vote for or against a
proposal or motion.
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
The term Abstention sounds best here, as you suggested abstain; it denotes:
an instance of declining to vote for or against a
proposal or motion.
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
The term Abstention sounds best here, as you suggested abstain; it denotes:
an instance of declining to vote for or against a
proposal or motion.
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
The term Abstention sounds best here, as you suggested abstain; it denotes:
an instance of declining to vote for or against a
proposal or motion.
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
edited Sep 5 at 16:25
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
answered Sep 5 at 14:54
Ahmed
1,998728
1,998728
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
add a comment |Â
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
In UK elections, where this option is not provided, such votes are counted, with others, as 'spoiled ballot papers'.
– Robin Betts
Sep 5 at 15:06
1
1
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
What you describe here is not at all what the OP is asking about, which is on whether an MP votes for or against a piece of legislation. NOTA in that context would be identical to "No", and thus pointless. Absention is neither a yes nor no vote, and does not count against passage as NOTA counts against the majority required to elect a candidate in jurisdictions where it's implemented.
– Monty Harder
Sep 5 at 15:26
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
@MontyHarder, thanks for the correction. I just mistakened the OP's question. I have edited my answer now. :)
– Ahmed
Sep 5 at 16:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
It's not political representatives as you asked, but a similar example that may be interesting is the procedure used (in US) for voting by stockholders of a publicly-owned company, usually at an annual meeting, but occasionally at a special meeting called to consider a merger or similar.
Shares can be voted explicitly yes/for, no/against, or abstain/withhold at these events. However, many shares are "held in street name", meaning they are registered as "owned" by the stockbroker who bought them on behalf a client who is the true "beneficial" owner; this allows purchases and sales to be done electronically which is quick and cheap rather than having to carry or mail paper certificates as was formerly done. (I'm old enough to remember my father in the 1970s doing that.) Since the broker is only a custodian of these shares, it must vote them as instructed by the client -- and if the client doesn't give instructions, as they often don't, the broker is permitted by regulations to vote on matters classified as "routine", which are now few, but not anything else. Shares not voted for this reason are in a fourth status called "broker non-votes" and depending on the company bylaws and corporation law for its state these non-votes sometimes count the same as abstentions but sometimes are treated differently.
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
It's not political representatives as you asked, but a similar example that may be interesting is the procedure used (in US) for voting by stockholders of a publicly-owned company, usually at an annual meeting, but occasionally at a special meeting called to consider a merger or similar.
Shares can be voted explicitly yes/for, no/against, or abstain/withhold at these events. However, many shares are "held in street name", meaning they are registered as "owned" by the stockbroker who bought them on behalf a client who is the true "beneficial" owner; this allows purchases and sales to be done electronically which is quick and cheap rather than having to carry or mail paper certificates as was formerly done. (I'm old enough to remember my father in the 1970s doing that.) Since the broker is only a custodian of these shares, it must vote them as instructed by the client -- and if the client doesn't give instructions, as they often don't, the broker is permitted by regulations to vote on matters classified as "routine", which are now few, but not anything else. Shares not voted for this reason are in a fourth status called "broker non-votes" and depending on the company bylaws and corporation law for its state these non-votes sometimes count the same as abstentions but sometimes are treated differently.
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
It's not political representatives as you asked, but a similar example that may be interesting is the procedure used (in US) for voting by stockholders of a publicly-owned company, usually at an annual meeting, but occasionally at a special meeting called to consider a merger or similar.
Shares can be voted explicitly yes/for, no/against, or abstain/withhold at these events. However, many shares are "held in street name", meaning they are registered as "owned" by the stockbroker who bought them on behalf a client who is the true "beneficial" owner; this allows purchases and sales to be done electronically which is quick and cheap rather than having to carry or mail paper certificates as was formerly done. (I'm old enough to remember my father in the 1970s doing that.) Since the broker is only a custodian of these shares, it must vote them as instructed by the client -- and if the client doesn't give instructions, as they often don't, the broker is permitted by regulations to vote on matters classified as "routine", which are now few, but not anything else. Shares not voted for this reason are in a fourth status called "broker non-votes" and depending on the company bylaws and corporation law for its state these non-votes sometimes count the same as abstentions but sometimes are treated differently.
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
It's not political representatives as you asked, but a similar example that may be interesting is the procedure used (in US) for voting by stockholders of a publicly-owned company, usually at an annual meeting, but occasionally at a special meeting called to consider a merger or similar.
Shares can be voted explicitly yes/for, no/against, or abstain/withhold at these events. However, many shares are "held in street name", meaning they are registered as "owned" by the stockbroker who bought them on behalf a client who is the true "beneficial" owner; this allows purchases and sales to be done electronically which is quick and cheap rather than having to carry or mail paper certificates as was formerly done. (I'm old enough to remember my father in the 1970s doing that.) Since the broker is only a custodian of these shares, it must vote them as instructed by the client -- and if the client doesn't give instructions, as they often don't, the broker is permitted by regulations to vote on matters classified as "routine", which are now few, but not anything else. Shares not voted for this reason are in a fourth status called "broker non-votes" and depending on the company bylaws and corporation law for its state these non-votes sometimes count the same as abstentions but sometimes are treated differently.
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
answered Sep 5 at 23:56
dave_thompson_085
15913
15913
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Absention is the most commonly used term.
However, in the UK parliament, you can't actually vote abstain (or similar).
When MPs vote, they 'divide' into the yes lobby or the no lobby, where their vote is recorded. If you don't want to vote yes or no, you stay in the chamber (or, you don't show up at the Commons at all).
Small and weird caveat: you can vote yes and no! https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/boths.php
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Absention is the most commonly used term.
However, in the UK parliament, you can't actually vote abstain (or similar).
When MPs vote, they 'divide' into the yes lobby or the no lobby, where their vote is recorded. If you don't want to vote yes or no, you stay in the chamber (or, you don't show up at the Commons at all).
Small and weird caveat: you can vote yes and no! https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/boths.php
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Absention is the most commonly used term.
However, in the UK parliament, you can't actually vote abstain (or similar).
When MPs vote, they 'divide' into the yes lobby or the no lobby, where their vote is recorded. If you don't want to vote yes or no, you stay in the chamber (or, you don't show up at the Commons at all).
Small and weird caveat: you can vote yes and no! https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/boths.php
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
Absention is the most commonly used term.
However, in the UK parliament, you can't actually vote abstain (or similar).
When MPs vote, they 'divide' into the yes lobby or the no lobby, where their vote is recorded. If you don't want to vote yes or no, you stay in the chamber (or, you don't show up at the Commons at all).
Small and weird caveat: you can vote yes and no! https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/boths.php
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
answered Sep 6 at 11:45
Ne Mo
3832411
3832411
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
add a comment |Â
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
"Both" is a much more active abstention that "not voting".
– Martin Bonner
Sep 6 at 14:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
Yeah, probably. I didn't want to go too deeply into the politics of it, since this an English question, not a political one.
– Ne Mo
Sep 6 at 15:45
add a comment |Â
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Voting on a bill in a parliament or institution of that ilk, is not a citizen voting in an election. You might want to take a look at: Robert's Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procesure, that deals specifically with this and is followed in most English-speaking countries.
– Lambie
Sep 5 at 16:36
It should read 'unpersuaded', but never does.
– Nigel J
Sep 5 at 18:35
6
@NigelJ No it shouldn't there are lots of reasons to abstain.
– Ben
Sep 5 at 20:29
1
This question would seem to have little to do with this site?
– Fattie
Sep 6 at 1:14
1
In some organizations, they actually consider multiple "3rd" options. Such as distinguishing "Abstain", from "No vote submitted".
– Lyndon White
Sep 6 at 6:45