The process by which the
House of Commons votes on a matter.
This is the process:
- The Speaker of the House asks that all in favour of the bill shout 'Aye' and all against to shout 'Nay' (all the M.P.s shout at the same time).
- If there is no definitive difference between the two then the Speaker shouts 'Division' (the House often is very raucous at this point).
- The M.P.s in the chamber exit out into the lobbies and make their way to different sides depending on what they think. If they think 'Aye' then they go to one side and if they think 'Nay' they go to the other side.
- In the lobbies they make their way to the exit where stalls are with clerks who take down the name of the M.P.. A tally is then made and the result is announced in the House.
In the case of a dead heat then the Speaker votes but she/he follows very strict rules of impartiality