Voting (Commons)

Compared to other legislatures, voting in the Commons is perhaps the most archaic of its traditions. The chair puts a question to the House. If the chair cannot easily discern the opinion of the House ('on a general Aye'), then a vote is held.

When a vote – or 'division' – is called MPs literally divide into two groups, those in favour (the Ayes) and those against (the Noes), by proceeding through one of two corridors (lobbies), where they are counted. When the chair calls a division (by saying 'clear the lobbies'), the division bells signalling a vote are sounded around the Palace of Westminster, in Whitehall and elsewhere. MPs have eight minutes to arrive in one of the two lobbies before the entrances are locked. They are counted as they exit. The quorum for a vote is 40.

The outcome of the vote is then reported to the chair by one of the four MPs (two for each lobby) appointed to count the votes (teller). The chair then confirms the result to the House. The whole process takes between 12 and 15 minutes. Because of the length of time it takes to vote, calling for a division can occasionally be used effectively as a delaying tactic in the House.

There is no formal way to abstain in a Commons division, as there is no way to record attendance in the chamber during a vote other than by voting with Ayes or the Noes. One way is to vote in both lobbies, but this is not always recognised as an abstention and requires swift movement from the MP in question.