Roll Call (Alphabetical)

An alphabetical roll call is the standard method by which a Model UN chair opens committee or conducts a substantive vote. The dais reads the list of member states in alphabetical order (typically English alphabetical, though some conferences use French ordering in line with UN practice for the General Assembly's rotating starting letter), and each delegation responds when its country is called.

There are two common contexts:

• Roll call for attendance: At the start of each session, delegates respond "present" or "present and voting." Declaring present and voting removes the right to abstain on substantive votes later in the session, a distinction drawn from UN practice and codified in most MUN rulebooks (THIMUN, NMUN, Harvard WorldMUN, etc.).
• Roll call vote on a substantive matter: After a motion for a roll call vote passes (usually requiring a simple majority, and only in order for substantive votes such as draft resolutions and amendments), the chair calls each delegation alphabetically. Delegates respond yes, no, abstain, pass, yes with rights, or no with rights. Delegations that pass are returned to at the end of the first sequence and must then vote yes or no — they may no longer abstain.

The alphabetical format contrasts with a randomized roll call (used at some conferences to prevent bandwagoning) and with placard voting or acclamation, which are faster but anonymous. Roll call votes are typically requested when a bloc wants the record to show exactly how each country voted, mirroring the transparency function of recorded votes in the actual UN General Assembly under Rule 87 of its Rules of Procedure.

Quorum is generally established once a majority — or in some rulesets one-third — of registered delegations have answered the attendance roll call.