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If you’ve not voted before, here’s a quick best-practice guide of what to do, and what to expect.

Familiarise yourself with the whole agenda and the voting process 

Don’t get caught out! It’s crucial that you know what’s being debated day-to-day, as the order of debates can change at short notice. This flexibility in the schedule ensures Congress always reflects the day’s most important issues, and allows time for emergency agenda items to be debated. 

Once you’re familiar with the agenda, read the background information, which gives an unbiased, four-country perspective of the issue being debated. You’ll also find this information printed in your Congress Guide, available when you arrive.

You’ll receive a delegate pack before Congress, where you’ll find information about how to vote. Please read this ahead of time, to make sure you feel comfortable about your responsibilities as a voting member.

Talk to the members you’re representing 

Find out the views and feelings of your branch, forum or representative committee and agree your voting strategy. This will help you feel more confident voting on their behalf. 

Understand your voting member benefits 

 Voting members are funded to attend Congress. This means: 

• we’ll pay for your travel to and from Congress
• for the days when you’re voting, we’ll book and pay for your accommodation 
• for the days when you’re voting, we’ll provide you with vouchers towards the cost of your lunch and pay for incidental expenses (in line with the RCN expenses policy) 
• we’ll pay for your meals at evening social events 

Find your seat!  

We’ve set aside special areas for our voting members. You’ll find a seating plan in your printed Congress Guide, and our staff will be on hand to help you find your seat.  

Get stuck in!  

By now, you should have read your delegate pack, which has information about how to vote. But don’t worry, the Chair and Vice Chair of Congress will also brief you during Congress on when it’s time to vote and what to do.  

We’ll ask you to vote ‘for’ or ‘against’ each resolution. You can also ‘abstain’ if you feel unable to vote. Voting will mainly take place by holding up the relevant pages in your delegate pack. It may sometimes take place electronically via a smart phone if the Chair of Congress feels that the vote result is too close to call.   

You’ll be expected in the main hall at all times on the days you’re funded to vote. 

We’ll be in touch by email before Congress with more detail about how to vote. 

Speak up!  

Speaking at Congress is a fantastic opportunity to get your voice heard. It’s also crucial for a good debate that as many views as possible are put forward. So don’t be shy!  

Approaching the podium for the first time can be a daunting experience, but you’ll soon discover that everyone who takes to the microphone – especially first-time speakers – receives a very warm welcome.

Share your experiences  

As a representative of your fellow members, we encourage you to share your Congress experiences with them. For example, you may want to attend a branch committee meeting and talk about the issues raised in the debates.