Voting Present in the State Legislature is Used as A Signal to the Other Party, Not As a Way to Duck the Issue. “An aspect of Obama’s State Senate voting record that is drawing attention is his “present” votes.  A present vote is a third option to an up or down “yes” or “no” that is used with great frequency in the Illinois General Assembly.  It has many varied and nuanced meanings that, in the context of the actual bills, border on boring.  It’s most important use is as a signal – to the other party, to the governor, to the sponsor – to show a willingness to compromise on the issue if not the exact bill, to show disapproval for one aspect of the bill, to question the constitutionality of the bill, to strengthen the bill. [Chicago Daily Herald, 3/10/04]

(hat tip: Barack Obama’s official site)

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