A parliamentary vote is a method of counting votes in a parliament or other legislative body. It uses more precise methods of counting than those employed in a voice vote, such as having members raise their hands or stand to indicate their support or opposition. The presiding officer usually recognizes the mover of a motion and those who favor or oppose the motion, while endeavouring to alternate recognition between those speaking for and against a question. During debate, members must confine their remarks to the question at hand and avoid attacking personalities or arraigning motives.
In the Westminster system, parliaments are elected from constituencies (usually 650 areas). Voters choose a candidate for each area and those candidates who receive the most votes become MPs. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes in a constituency, a second ballot is held. The candidate who receives the most votes in the second ballot is elected. Parliaments may also be elected by proportional representation.
The governing body of a parliamentary democracy, the prime minister and cabinet of executive ministers, can be voted out of office at any time between regularly scheduled elections by a majority vote in the legislative body. This provides a more immediate response to the popular will than the checks and balances that are provided by a presidential system.
Some countries use a variation of the parliamentary system called the closed party list system where voters select a political party rather than individual candidates. The political parties then allocate the number of seats they will win in each region based on the total amount of party vote received by each region.