Knowledge is Power: Arkansas Government 101: Roll Call Votes!

For a bill to pass out of a House or Senate committee, it must get enough votes. Last week's quiz focused on how many and what kind of votes were enough. Eleven "Yes" votes are needed in a House committee and five "Yes" votes are needed in a Senate committee for a bill to pass to the next level toward becoming a law. How are these votes taken? Are they recorded? And how can voters know how their representatives vote on a bill in committee?

In summary, the vast majority of bills are voted on with a "voice" vote only with no record made of how a committee member votes. On a "voice" vote the chairman of the committee will ask, "All those in favor say 'Aye'" and "Those opposed say, "Nay". Members then state their votes aloud. Some legislators remain silent, leave the room, or were absent that day if they do not want to vote on the bill. Upon hearing the audible vote, it is then left to the discretion of the chairman to judge whether he heard the required number ( 11 or 5 respectively) "Yes" votes to pass the bill. The only time a record of voting is made is when a member of the committee specifically asks to "roll call" the vote. This is done to challenge the "decision" of the chairman. Upon a member asking to roll call the vote, each member in the committee goes on the record with a "yes," "no", "present," or "non-voting" which becomes public record. Roll calling a vote removes chairman discretion and assures a bill is passed with the legally required number of "Yes" votes

Since the vast majority of votes are never roll called or otherwise recorded, it may be impossible to learn how your legislator voted in committee. There is a video recording of most House committee meetings. However no videos are made of Senate committees. Using video review or your personal attendance at a meeting may be the only way to know how or even if your legislator voted unless there was a roll call.

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* 1. Are Arkansas Senate and House committee votes recorded so that the public can know how their legislator voted on a bill in committee?

No. All votes are just voice votes and there is no way to know how a legislator voted on a bill in committee.

No. UNLESS a legislator specficially requests (or chairman requires) for a "roll call vote" to occur on the bill. Then each legislator must go on record with how they voted and the public can then know those voting records.

Yes. All committee votes are recorded and the public can see the voting records of legislators on committee votes.

Yes. But ONLY if a bill gets at least 1 audibile No vote on a bill, thus triggering a roll call vote.

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* 2. What is the result of a vote on a bill in committee when the Chairman calls it as "bill passes" when there were actually less than a majority number of audible "Yes" votes? For example, in a Senate committee only 3 or 4 Senators audibly vote "Yes", even though it takes 5 "Yes" votes to pass the bill and the Chairman declares the bill passes. What is the result of that vote on the bill?

The bill is re-considered on another day by the committee.

The bill fails.

How the chairman voted is the result of whether the bill passed. So, if the Chairman voted Yes the bill passes and if the chairman voted No the bill fails.

The bill passes, UNLESS a legislator calls for a "roll call vote" on the bill to defeat it.

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* 3. Who can request a roll call vote on a bill in committee?

Any State Representative or State Senator

Only the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the committee

Someone testifying on the bill.

Any member of the committee

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* 4. When bills are considered in committees can a member of the public speak in favor or against the bill in front of the legislators?

No, only committee members may speak for or against a bill.

No, only the bill sponsor can speak for or against a bill

Yes, if the chairman allows it.

Yes, but only if you are a registered lobbyist.

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* 5. Have you subscribed to Conduit for Action's email list to get new surveys and articles automatically sent to your inbox?

Yes.

No. Enter email HERE if you wish to subscribe.

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* 1. Are Arkansas Senate and House committee votes recorded so that the public can know how their legislator voted on a bill in committee?

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* 3. Who can request a roll call vote on a bill in committee?

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* 4. When bills are considered in committees can a member of the public speak in favor or against the bill in front of the legislators?

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* 5. Have you subscribed to Conduit for Action's email list to get new surveys and articles automatically sent to your inbox?

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* 6. In what town do you live?