Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''absteinen'', from Anglo-French ''asteign''-, ''absteign''-, stem of ''astenir'', ''abstenir'', from [[Latin]] ''abstinēre'', from ''abs''-, ''ab''- + ''tenēre'' to hold  

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''absteinen'', from Anglo-French ''asteign''-, ''absteign''-, stem of ''astenir'', ''abstenir'', from [[Latin]] ''abstinēre'', from ''abs''-, ''ab''- + ''tenēre'' to hold  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1 : to refrain deliberately and often with an [[effort]] of self-denial from an [[action]] or [[practice]] <abstain from drinking>  

*1 : to refrain deliberately and often with an [[effort]] of self-denial from an [[action]] or [[practice]] <abstain from drinking>  

==Description==

==Description==

'''Abstention''' is a term in [[election]] [[procedure]] for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote (on election day) or, in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_procedure parliamentary procedure], is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be [[contrasted]] with "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_vote blank vote]", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by marking it wrongly or by not marking anything at all. A "blank (or white) voter" has voted, although his vote may be considered a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote spoilt vote], depending on each [[legislation]], while an abstaining voter hasn't voted. Both forms (abstention and blank vote) may or may not, depending on the circumstances, be considered to be [[protest]] vote.

'''Abstention''' is a term in [[election]] [[procedure]] for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote (on election day) or, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_procedure parliamentary procedure], is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be [[contrasted]] with "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blank_vote blank vote]", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by marking it wrongly or by not marking anything at all. A "blank (or white) voter" has voted, although his vote may be considered a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote spoilt vote], depending on each [[legislation]], while an abstaining voter hasn't voted. Both forms (abstention and blank vote) may or may not, depending on the circumstances, be considered to be [[protest]] vote.

An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active [[opposition]]. Abstention can also be used when someone has a certain [[position]] about an issue, but since the [[popular]] sentiment supports the opposite, it might be not be politically expedient to vote according to his or her [[conscience]]. A person may also abstain when they do not feel adequately informed about the issue at hand, or has not [[participated]] in relevant [[discussion]]. In parliamentary procedure, a member may be required to abstain in the case of a real or perceived [[conflict]] of interest.

An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active [[opposition]]. Abstention can also be used when someone has a certain [[position]] about an issue, but since the [[popular]] sentiment supports the opposite, it might be not be politically expedient to vote according to his or her [[conscience]]. A person may also abstain when they do not feel adequately informed about the issue at hand, or has not [[participated]] in relevant [[discussion]]. In parliamentary procedure, a member may be required to abstain in the case of a real or perceived [[conflict]] of interest.

Abstentions do not count in tallying the vote negatively or positively; when members abstain, they are in [[effect]] attending only to contribute to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quorum quorum]. White votes, however, may be counted in the total of [[vote]]s, depending on the [[legislation]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstain]

Abstentions do not count in tallying the vote negatively or positively; when members abstain, they are in [[effect]] attending only to contribute to a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/quorum quorum]. White votes, however, may be counted in the total of [[vote]]s, depending on the [[legislation]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstain]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]