House electronic voting device. Click on picture for larger image

I'm interested in the mechanics of voting in the House of Representatives. The Chair announces the vote will be "by electronic device." How do Members vote electronically? - 5/3/00

Members are each assigned a personally coded identification card, akin to a plastic credit card in appearance. There are 44 "voting stations" spread throughout the House chamber. The stations are small consoles attached to the backs of some of the seats on the House floor.

During a voting period, Members approach a console and wait for a blue light to come on indicating the console is "clear" and ready to receive the next vote. They then insert their card into the entry slot. If they press the "yea" button, a green light comes on. The "nay" button brings a red light. The final option is to vote "present" which indicates they did not miss the vote but choose not to take a position (perhaps due to an acknowledged conflict of interest on that particular issue.) A vote of "present" brings an orange light.

When the electronic machinery is activated, the ornate turquoise and gold brocaded wall above the Speaker's rostrum transforms into a digital voting screen. All the Members' names are alphabetically listed, with a light next to each name. As soon as a Member votes at one of the consoles, his/her vote is instantly registered on the large screen visible to all in the chamber: the light next to each name registers red, green, or orange as the Member votes. Members usually look up at the screen after they vote to assure themselves their vote was appropriately registered. Undecided Members may study the screen for a voting cue from the vote of a respected colleague. Party whips and leaders are also closely watching the screen to make sure that Members vote as expected. If necessary, votes are kept open to allow party leaders to persuade Members to change their vote if it goes against the party.

Smaller digital "scoreboards" are placed above the side entrances to the chamber. These keep a running digital tally of the "yea" and "nay" totals, as well as the time left in the voting period.

Another aspect of the electronic voting system is that the vote can be accessed by computer as it is taking place. There is a terminal on both the Majority and Minority Leadership tables near the front of the chamber, and one on each side of the aisle at the rear of the chamber. The rear terminals are disguised as old-fashioned roll-top desks. Their modernity, complete with printer, is only revealed during a vote. Members cluster around the computer terminals to watch the vote unfold: the computer can print out various analytical breakdowns of the vote. For example, a Member could ask for a list of the Democrats who have voted "yea" so far or for the Republicans who have voted "nay."

House rules prohibit all proxy voting and strictly prohibit any Member from allowing any other individual to use his/her card to vote in his/her place. Break-downs of the electronic system are quite rare since a back-up computer takes over in case of failure of the first. Should both break down, the vote would be taken by a recorded teller vote: Members would be asked to sign a green "yea" card, a red "nay" card, or an orange "present" card, and hand them to appointed tellers who would count and verify the totals.