[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H4336]]
                      ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

  The SPEAKER. On January 4, 1995, the Chair enunciated a clear policy 
concerning the conduct of electronic votes. Under that policy the House 
was able to avoid the unnecessary loss of time in conducting its 
business by striving to close each electronic vote as soon as possible 
after the minimum time guaranteed by the rules. After consultation with 
the minority leader, the Chair has concluded that this policy bears 
reaffirmation.
  As Members are aware, the rules of the House establish 15 minutes as 
the minimum time for electronic voting in the ordinary case and 5 
minutes as the minimum time for electronic voting in other cases where 
Members are already in or near the Chamber in response to an earlier 
vote. With the cooperation of the Members, an electronic vote can be 
completed within the minimum time allotted under the rules.
  Today the Chair asks all Members to join in mutual rededication to 
the policy of closing electronic votes as soon as possible after the 
minimum time guaranteed by the rule. Where the minimum time guaranteed 
by the rule is 15 minutes, occupants of the chair will endeavor to 
close votes after no more than 17 minutes. Where the minimum time 
guaranteed by the rules is 5 minutes, occupants of the chair will 
endeavor to close votes after no more than 6 minutes.
  Members have appreciated and cooperated with the Chair's strict 
enforcement of this policy in the past. The Chair encourages all 
Members to depart for the Chamber promptly upon the appropriate bell 
and light signal. As in recent Congresses, the Cloakroom should not 
forward to the Chair requests to hold a vote by electronic device but 
should simply apprise inquiring Members of the time remaining on the 
voting clock. Members should not rely on signals related from outside 
the Chamber to assume that votes will be held open until they arrive in 
the Chamber.
  Although no occupant of the chair will prevent a Member who is 
visible to the Chair before the announcement of the result from casting 
or changing his or her vote, each occupant of the chair will have the 
full support of the Speaker in striving to close each electronic vote 
at the earlier opportunity.

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