Legal Definitions - roll-call vote

A roll-call vote is a formal voting procedure, typically used in legislative bodies or other deliberative assemblies, where each member's name is called out individually, and they publicly state their vote. This method ensures that each member's vote is recorded and attributed to them, promoting transparency and accountability.

Here are some examples illustrating a roll-call vote:

• Legislative Decision: When the U.S. House of Representatives considers a critical piece of legislation, such as a federal budget bill, a roll-call vote is often initiated. The House clerk calls out each representative's name alphabetically, and as their name is called, they publicly declare "yea," "nay," or "present" (abstain). This process ensures that every representative's stance on the budget is officially recorded and accessible to the public, allowing constituents to see how their elected official voted on a key issue.

• Local Government Resolution: A city council is debating a controversial resolution to raise local property taxes to fund new infrastructure projects. Due to the significant public interest and potential impact on residents, the council president calls for a roll-call vote. The city clerk goes down the list of council members, calling each by name. Each council member then states their vote aloud, which is then officially logged in the meeting minutes. This provides a clear, undeniable record of how each individual council member voted on the tax increase, fostering accountability to the community.

• Organizational Leadership Vote: The board of directors for a large university is voting on a proposal to significantly increase tuition fees for the upcoming academic year. Given the importance of the decision and its impact on students and faculty, the board chair requests a roll-call vote. Each board member's name is called, and they verbally cast their vote (e.g., "for the proposal," "against the proposal"). This ensures that the university's stakeholders can clearly identify which board members supported or opposed the tuition hike, providing transparency in the governance process.