1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 98-227 GOVUpdated February 20, 2001Voting in the Senate:Forms and RequirementsWalter J. OleszekSenior SpecialistGovernment and Finance DivisionVoting is among the most important public
2、 acts of individual Senators. For example,Senators recognize that their decisions often need to be explained to constituents who areinterested 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 sche
3、dulevotes during a time when they believe they can win senatorial support for their objectives.That Senators try never to miss votes is reflected in the high percentage of rollcall votesthat they cast. On all recorded votes taken in the chamber, Senators, on average, castvotes over 95 percent of the
4、 time.There are three ways of voting in the Senate: voice, division, and yea and nay (alsocalled rollcall or recorded) votes. Neither voice nor division votes are recognized in therules of the Senate. Instead, they are permitted by precedent. Senate Rule XII outlinesvoting procedure in the chamber a
