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How does a voice vote work in a legislature?

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President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Medicare Bill at a table beside former President Harry S. Truman, with Lady Bird Johnson and others standing behind them. — Legislation Former U.S. president Harry S. Truman (right) looking on as U.S. Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Medicare bill at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, July 30, 1965.

A voice vote, often referred to by the Latin term viva voce (meaning "with the living voice"), is a common method used in legislative bodies to determine the will of the assembly on a motion or bill.12

In this process, the presiding officer—such as the speaker or chair—calls for members to express their position aloud. Members typically respond by calling out "aye" for an affirmative vote or "no" for a negative vote. The presiding officer then listens to the volume and intensity of the responses to estimate which side has the majority and declares the result, such as "The ayes have it" or "The noes have it".345

Because this method relies on an estimation of sound rather than an exact count, it is used for efficiency. However, if there is any doubt regarding the outcome of the voice vote, any member may request a more formal method of voting, such as a division (a standing vote) or a recorded vote, to ensure an accurate tally.34