Motion for Roll Call Vote

A motion for a roll call vote asks the chair to record each delegation's position individually rather than tallying votes by a simple show of placards or electronic display. When granted, the dais reads the roll in alphabetical (or, in some conferences, randomly selected starting) order, and each delegation responds with "yes," "no," "abstain," "pass," or—in many rulebooks—"yes with rights" or "no with rights," which reserves a short post-vote explanation of vote.

The motion is generally available only on substantive matters (draft resolutions, amendments treated as substantive), not on procedural questions, which are decided by a show of placards. In most Model UN rulebooks, including those modeled on the UN General Assembly Rules of Procedure, the motion requires a second and is decided by the chair or by a simple majority, depending on the conference's rules.

Key mechanics typically include:

• Delegations that "pass" on the first round must vote (yes or no, without abstaining or passing again) on the second round.
• A delegation voting "with rights" is granted ~30 seconds after voting concludes to explain its position.
• Abstentions are usually permitted only for delegations not bound by a clear national position; in some councils, such as the UN Security Council, permanent members' abstentions famously do not count as vetoes (per the practice established after the 1950 Korea vote).

Delegates use the motion for several reasons: to put pressure on fence-sitters by forcing a public stance, to create a verbatim record useful for caucus negotiations, to slow the pace of voting bloc, or to dramatize a close vote. Chairs may rule the motion dilatory if used repetitively. In real UN practice, roll-call votes are routine in the General Assembly on contested resolutions and are recorded in the official meeting record.