Practical guide
Voting by Show of Hands or by Roll Call: How to Manage It
Voting in a condominium owners' meeting can take place by show of hands, the most common method, or in nominal form or by roll call when more precision or confidentiality is needed. The law does not impose a single method, but whatever the mode the result must be verifiable on two quantities, the number of those present and the thousandths (millesimi). The practical difference lies in traceability: a show of hands is quick but requires care in the count, while a nominal vote links each vote to the owner and their millesimi. This guide explains how to conduct the vote, count it and record it so the minutes hold up to a challenge.
Compared
| Criterion | Show of hands | Nominal or roll-call vote |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very quick, suited to few units | Slower, requires a roll call or ballots |
| Traceability of millesimi | Must be reconstructed by counting who raises a hand | Each vote is linked to the owner and their millesimi |
| Precision at large meetings | Risk of counting errors | More reliable with many attendees |
| Minute-taking | Requires noting for, against and abstained | The nominal list makes the minutes easier |
No method is imposed, but the result must be proven
The Italian Civil Code does not prescribe a mandatory voting mode. The meeting is free to vote by show of hands or in nominal form, and it may decide the method for each item. What matters is that the chair and the secretary can reconstruct with certainty how many voted for, against or abstained, and which millesimi correspond.
Since the validity of a resolution depends both on the number of those present and on the favourable millesimi, the chosen method must allow both to be calculated. A vote counted only by heads, without tracing the millesimi, does not allow the deliberative quorum to be verified.
When a show of hands is best
A show of hands is practical in condominiums with few units or on simple, uncontroversial decisions. The chair asks for votes in favour, then against, then abstentions, and the secretary notes each time who raised a hand, associating with each the millesimi of their unit.
The risk is miscounting when there are many people present or when someone changes position during the discussion. For this reason it is good practice to proceed in three distinct steps, for, against and abstained, checking that the sum of the voters matches those recorded on the attendance sheet.
When a nominal vote is best
A nominal vote, with a roll call of the owners one by one, is preferable at large meetings or on important and potentially contested decisions. By linking each vote to the name and the millesimi, the count becomes precise and the minutes can report exactly who voted in which way.
This mode is also useful when a resolution passes by a narrow margin: having the nominal list makes it possible to show that the majority of those present and the millesimi threshold were actually reached. It is the method that offers the greatest evidentiary strength in case of a challenge.
How to count votes correctly
An example: a meeting with 10 present for 900 millesimi. On an ordinary resolution on second call, 6 owners vote in favour for 560 millesimi, 3 against for 250 millesimi, 1 abstains for 90 millesimi. The resolution is approved, because it has the majority of those present, 6 out of 10, and exceeds the required 333.33 millesimi.
Cross-checking is essential: the sum of for, against and abstained must equal the number of those present, and the sum of their millesimi must equal the millesimi present. If the figures do not add up, the count must be redone before declaring the outcome.
Recording the vote without errors
Whatever method is chosen, the weak point is manual transcription. With AmministraPro the chair records, for each resolution, the votes for, against and abstained by selecting the owners present, and the system automatically sums heads and millesimi, indicating whether the threshold is reached.
The result flows into the minutes with the nominal list, reducing the risk of miscounts. The meeting-conduct features and the available plans are described on the /funzioni and /prezzi pages.
Frequently asked questions
Can a condominium vote be secret?
In the meeting, open voting prevails, because each vote must be associated with the owner's millesimi to verify the majorities. A completely anonymous vote would make it impossible to calculate the deliberative quorum. The nominal vote, with a roll call, is the most protective form when certainty is needed on the outcome of an important resolution.
Who decides the voting method?
The method can be agreed by the meeting, often on the chair's proposal. The law does not impose a single mode, so voting may be by show of hands or in nominal form, even differentiating by item. What matters is that the chosen method allows votes and favourable, contrary and abstained millesimi to be reconstructed with certainty.
How are millesimi counted in a show of hands?
Each owner who raises a hand carries the millesimi of their own unit, or of the grantors if they represent others. The secretary associates the corresponding millesimi with each vote and sums them for, against and abstained. Only in this way can it be verified whether the resolution reaches the millesimi threshold set for that matter.
What if the counts do not match?
If the sum of for, against and abstained does not match those present, or if the millesimi do not tally with those recorded, the count must be redone before proclaiming the outcome. Declaring a resolution approved with an inconsistent count exposes it to the risk of challenge. A cross-check between heads and millesimi prevents the error.
Is a show of hands fine for important decisions?
It can be fine if there are few present and the outcome is clear, but on important or contested decisions a nominal vote is preferable. The nominal list of voters offers stronger proof that the majorities of those present and of millesimi were reached, useful above all when a resolution passes by a narrow margin.
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