Legal Definitions - serpentine vote

A serpentine vote is a type of standing vote in which voters count off and sit down, with the count progressing up one row and down the next until each member on the side of the question being counted has voted. This type of vote is used in parliamentary procedures to determine the outcome of a decision.

During a meeting, a motion is made to approve a new budget for the organization. The chairperson calls for a serpentine vote to determine whether the motion passes or fails. Members on one side of the room count off and sit down, followed by members on the other side of the room. The count continues until all members have voted, and the chairperson announces the outcome of the vote.

This example illustrates how a serpentine vote is used to determine the outcome of a decision in a parliamentary procedure. It shows how members of an organization can use this type of vote to express their preference or opinion on a particular issue.