What happens if a member of parliament is late to a vote?
Decisions are made in the Australian Parliament by voting on a question. Although senators and members of the House of Representatives don’t have to be present during all the debate, it is expected that they will be present for formal votes called divisions.
When a division is called, the Clerk rings the division bells for 4 minutes to request senators or members return to vote. After 4 minutes, the doors are closed and locked, and members of parliament are not allowed to enter or leave the room until the end of the division.
Sometimes, a senator or member may be late and the doors are locked before they arrive. They will not be counted.
However, a rule in the House of Representatives says that a member may ask ‘That the House divide again’. If this is agreed to, the vote is retaken and the result of the new division is recorded as the decision of the House.
The Senate also allows another division for ‘Errors, confusion or misadventure in divisions’.
The Senate during a division
Penny Bradfield/DPS AUSPIC
The Senate during a division
Penny Bradfield/DPS AUSPIC
Description
A division – formal vote – happening in the Senate. Senators are divided into two groups. Those voting 'aye' or 'yes' sit on one side of the Senate and on those voting 'no' sit on the other side. Two senators stand and count the votes. The votes are recorded by the Clerks who are sitting at the main table in the middle of the Senate. The Usher of the Black Rod guards the door as senators are not allowed to enter or leave the room until the count is completed.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.