Proxy Voting and Polling in Senate Committee

Christopher M. Davis
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process

In an effort to operate efficiently despite the competing scheduling demands placed on its members, all Senate standing committees permit “proxy voting” in some instances and many of them permit certain questions to be “polled.” Proxy voting is a practice whereby an absent Senator authorizes a second, present, Senator to cast his or her vote in addition to their own during a committee markup meeting. When polling, a committee or subcommittee asks its members to approve questions relating to legislation or internal committee business without formally meeting. Under Senate rules and precedents, committees have significant freedom to regulate their use of proxies and polls. Proxy votes may not be used, however, to constitute the quorum necessary to successfully order a committee report. In addition, Senators must be informed about and affirmatively request to vote by proxy on the motion to report. With respect to polling, Senate rules do not permit committees to order a measure or matter reported to the Senate by poll.


Date of Report: May 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 9
Order Number: RS22952
Price: $19.95

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