The Decision-Making Process / Recorded Divisions

Member rising to request that their vote be counted; alleged error in voting process

May 27, 2014

Debates, p. 5725

On May 27, 2014, Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough) rose on a point of order with regard to the recorded division on Government Motion No. 10. Mr. Del Mastro stated that he had risen to vote in favour of the motion but did not believe his vote had been counted. After the Speaker indicated that he did not think the Member had risen, he asked for unanimous consent for the Member’s vote to be recorded, which was denied. Several Members then rose to attest to the fact that Mr. Del Mastro was standing to vote. The Speaker stated that he would review the tapes and come back to the House with a ruling on the matter.^[1]

Resolution

The Speaker, after having reviewed the tape of the vote on Government Motion No. 10, indicated that Mr. Del Mastro had indeed stood to vote in favour of the motion and, thus, his vote would be recorded. He also reminded Members to be attentive and rise in a timely fashion to ensure that their votes were properly recorded.

Decision of the Chair

The Speaker: Further to the point of order raised at the end of tonight’s vote on Government Motion No. 10, I have reviewed the tape, as I had committed to do, and can now confirm that the hon. Member for Peterborough did rise when the yeas were called. As such, and specifically in this case, because there was an error in the voting process, his vote will be recorded accordingly.

That being said, the confusion tonight should again serve as a reminder to all Members to remain attentive throughout the duration of votes, rising at the appropriate time in order to have their votes recorded as they intended and listening to ensure that their names have indeed been called. This would be of great assistance to the Chair, and it is only by doing so that the Chair and the vote-callers are not left guessing and that Members’ votes will be properly recorded.