# If the ballot today is secret, why will Cheney be removed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 12, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909 "2021-05-12T13:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/1 "2021-05-12T13:55:23Z")
I hear that in a secret ballot today the House Republicans are very likely to remove Cheney from leadership. But I also keep hearing that most Republicans believe she’s right and are just afraid Trump will see them supporting her. If the ballot is secret, why is it likely to succeed in removal? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/2 "2021-05-12T14:27:37Z")
No idea, but as an update, it has succeeded. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/3 "2021-05-12T14:58:36Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > But I also keep hearing that most Republicans believe she’s right and are just afraid Trump will see them supporting her. I see no reason to believe this. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/4 "2021-05-12T15:27:37Z")
I read it was a voice vote. Does that mean it is not secret? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/5 "2021-05-12T15:48:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I see no reason to believe this. I have heard many times from reporters that when they talk to Republican House members off the record, they say this. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/6 "2021-05-12T15:51:01Z")
Maybe they voted with funny voices. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/7 "2021-05-12T15:55:10Z")
I also heard on the news that they did remove her. But was it secret or wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/8 "2021-05-12T16:10:46Z")
“Voice vote” means you do the general “all in favor say aye, etc. … the ayes have it” and if nobody with standing asks for a count, there is neither count nor record. To have a secret ballot or a roll call it has to be so asked and seconded. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/9 "2021-05-12T16:50:10Z")
Per CNN, it was a voice vote, as @JRDelirious explained. It was quick, and as usual for a simple voice vote, there is no record of who voted which way. No one had to go on the record. If a Representative was quiet or mumbled, even other members of the caucus might not be certain which way they voted. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/10 "2021-05-12T18:33:47Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > “Voice vote” means you do the general “all in favor say aye, etc. … the ayes have it” and if nobody with standing asks for a count, there is neither count nor record. To have a secret ballot or a roll call it has to be so asked and seconded. How, prey tell, do they decide whether more were for than against? Is somebody measuring the decibel level of the vote? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/11 "2021-05-12T18:36:45Z")
If it was a voice vote, then if anyone dared to contest it they would automatically be labeled as a Party Traitor. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/12 "2021-05-12T18:37:18Z")
Don’t be ridiculous. 😆 Do you honestly think there were any “nos?” That’s why they wanted a voice vote in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/13 "2021-05-12T18:53:09Z")
A lot of Republicans think she’s right about Trump but think she should shut up about it for the same reason that they themselves are shutting up about it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/14 "2021-05-12T18:56:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > A lot of Republicans think she’s right about Trump but think she should shut up about it for the same reason that they themselves are shutting up about it Fear? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/15 "2021-05-12T18:58:11Z")
Avarice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/16 "2021-05-12T18:59:02Z")
50/50? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/17 "2021-05-12T19:10:04Z")
Bottom line is he has a huge following among the RP base. Constantly harping him undermines the party. The idea is to keep quiet and hope he moves to the back burner and fades away and/or dies or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/18 "2021-05-12T19:10:20Z")
Pretty much. The chair just decides whether there were more “ayes” or “nays”. At that point, someone can (depending on the specific rules for that specific forum) move for a vote by an alternate procedure (such as a roll call or vote by ballot). If they get a second to the motion, the vote must then be held by the alternate procedure. This is a procedure that can be abused. A chair can ram through a measure by voice vote, declare the winner, and then gavel the vote closed before anyone has a chance to object. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/19 "2021-05-12T19:14:59Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > This is a procedure that can be abused. A chair can ram through a measure by voice vote, declare the winner, and then gavel the vote closed before anyone has a chance to object. Kangaroo Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909/20 "2021-05-12T19:15:05Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > This is a procedure that can be abused. A chair can ram through a measure by voice vote, declare the winner, and then gavel the vote closed before anyone has a chance to object. Or, as I previously stated, the chair can just make a declaration knowing that any objection will be seen by the group as a betrayal of the party. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-ballot-today-is-secret-why-will-cheney-be-removed/941909.md?page=2)