# Why is it common to use "aye" and "nay" for voice votes?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-to-use-aye-and-nay-for-voice-votes/291881>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 25, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-to-use-aye-and-nay-for-voice-votes/291881 "2005-02-25T15:07:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Thrillhouse15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-to-use-aye-and-nay-for-voice-votes/291881/1 "2005-02-25T15:07:14Z")

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Sorry if this has been discussed here previously, but I can’t really do a search for the words “aye” and “nay.”

What is the origin of this? Is there any reason those words are used in a voice vote (along with the occasional “yea”) instead of “yes” and “no”?

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-to-use-aye-and-nay-for-voice-votes/291881/2 "2005-02-25T15:18:08Z")

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A quick google suggests both words are of Norse origin. So I’d guess this would explain them being used by the post-1066 ruling classes of England. From there, it would make sense that they found their way into debating vocabularly, and into the earliest parliamentary proceedings. Once there, I’d presume they’ve simply remained, and influenced other voting procedures.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-to-use-aye-and-nay-for-voice-votes/291881/3 "2005-02-25T17:29:16Z")

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I don’t know the answer, but I’d like to point out that in the U.S. Congress, they use “aye” for “yes,” but “no” is just “no,” not “nay.” Odd.