Correct me if I'm wrong...

[hammy]

...but doesn't a "not present" vote count the same as a "nay" vote? I'm almost certain this is how it indexes in congress, but I was just wondering. If so, can anybody provide me with some hot links as to verification on this?

[sailingaway]

That is my understanding, it needs votes to PASS. However, I still wish they hadn't rushed the CISPA vote at the last minute so Ron could have voted against it. He was on his way to his rally at UT before it even became clear they would vote on it yesterday, they were saying it was today. They gave Congressmen only TWO MINUTES to vote on the amendments, for example.

[hammy]

Help me, RPF. You're my only hope. There's hardly anything I can find on the internets towards how the "yea/nay/not present" system works.

[wgadget]

Maybe he should invest in one of those magic pens like Obama has.

[wgadget]

Help me, RPF. You're my only hope. There's hardly anything I can find on the internets towards how the "yea/nay/not present" system works.

Can you just find an article that tells the amount it passed by, and then extrapolate from there where the NOT PRESENT votes went?

[rich34]

I've read that if this happens they'll call up the alternate(s) to vote how they're supposed to. I have no idea as we could be swimming in uncharted waters.

[jovasi]

It appears it counts as neither.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h192

[hammy]

I give up. Hahaha, I have no clue what to think.

[ronpaulfollower999]

Not present means he wasnt present to vote. Only thing it counts for is quorum to go ahead with the vote.

[Philosophy_of_Politics]

We exist as a Representative Republic. Your vote represents your voice. Therefore, your vote represents the policies you support, along with the presidential candidate that advocates the same policies.

If we choose not to vote at all, then this simply means "NAY." Simply because, their failure to provide a vote cannot be used as advocacy of passing legislation.

[jcannon98188]

Not present is essentially a nay vote. We do not vote to not have a bill pass. We vote to pass bills. They need a certain number of yays in order to pass. It does not matter how many people vote nay. Kind of like 1144, it does not matter how many delegates vote Ron Paul, as long as Romney does not get 1144 he is not the nominee :)