House rules

Rule 21. Voting

(A) PUTTING OF QUESTION. The speaker shall put the question in the following form: "The question before the house is (state the question). As many as are in favor say 'Aye'; and after the affirmative vote is expressed, "as many as are opposed say 'No'."

(B) ALL MEMBERS TO VOTE. Except as provided in subsection (G), every member who was in the house or participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 when the question was put shall vote unless, for special reasons, excused by the house.

All motions to excuse a member shall be made before the house divides or before the call for yeas and nays is commenced; and any member requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief and verbal statement of the reasons for making such request, and the question shall then be taken without further debate.

(C) COUNT OF THE HOUSE. Upon a division and count of the house on the question, only members at their desks within the bar of the house or participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 shall be counted.

(D) CHANGE OF VOTE. When the electric roll call machine is used, no member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the speaker has locked the roll call machine. When an oral roll call is taken, no member shall be allowed to vote or change a vote after the result has been announced.

(E) PRIVATE INTEREST. No member shall vote on any question which affects that member privately and particularly. A member who has a private interest in any bill or measure proposed or pending before the legislature shall disclose the fact to the house of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon. (Article II, section 30)

(F) INTERRUPTION OF ROLL CALL. Once begun, the roll call may not be interrupted. No member or other person shall visit or remain at the clerk's desk while the yeas and nays are being called.

(G) MOTIONS NOT REQUIRING A RECORDED ROLL CALL VOTE. Members in the house and members participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 may vote on any motion not requiring a recorded roll call vote, including when the house divides. Members participating remotely may vote using the remote floor activity system.

(H) INABILITY TO VOTE USING REMOTE VOTING FUNCTION. A member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who is unable to vote using the remote voting function on any motion requiring a recorded roll call vote may vote orally. If a member is unable to vote using the remote voting function or orally, the rostrum staff shall contact the member by telephone and the member's vote may be taken by telephone to rostrum staff after the member answers security questions to verify the identity of the member. The rostrum staff will announce the vote of the member, which shall be recorded.

(I) YEAS AND NAYS - RECORDED VOTES. Upon the final passage of any bill, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays and shall be recorded by the electric voting system: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That an oral roll call shall be ordered when demanded by one-sixth (1/6) of the members present. (Article II, section 21)

The speaker may vote last when the yeas and nays are called.

When the vote is by electric voting machine or by oral roll call on any question, it shall be entered upon the journal of the house. A recorded vote may be compelled by one-sixth (1/6) of the members present. A request for a recorded vote must be made before the vote is commenced.

(J) TIE VOTE, QUESTION LOSES. In case of an equal division, the question shall be lost.

(K) DIVISION. If the speaker is in doubt, or if division is called for by any member, the house shall divide.

(L) STATEMENT FOR JOURNAL. A member whose recorded vote does not accurately reflect their intent may submit a written statement for the journal clarifying their intent to vote aye or nay. The statement must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the vote is taken. A member who is excused for one or more days of recorded votes may submit a written statement for the journal explaining the reason for their absence. The statement may not exceed 50 words and must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the member returns. A member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, orally, or by telephone may submit a statement for the journal within 48 hours indicating their intent to vote yea or nay.