How do pc show they are abstaining

Question

We have councillors that do not rise there hands when abstaining should they show a hand to say they are not abstaining or do we just take it that they are abstaining from the vote

Answer 1

An abstention is such a waste!  However, I personally believe those abstaining should say so.  Your Chair should check

Comments

We have been looking for the correct way to abstain put so far can find it anywhere

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I don't believe there is a correct way as such but your Chair can ask those not voting if they are abstaining.  It's is an irrelevant "vote" if you want to call it that as it doesn't register.  For example if there are five people voting with one voting for and the other four abstaining, the vote in favour will count as a carried resolution.  If you don't like what is being proposed, it is better to vote against rather than abstain.

Answer 2

When a vote is called for then councillors have the choice to vote for the proposal against the proposal or abstain ( decline) from voting . Confirming abstentions is purely a mechanism for whoever is recording the vote to ensure that the matter was recorded correctly to record votes for and votes against and confirm that those who did neither did abstain the vote rather than had a misunderstanding or laps of concentration on their part at the time of the voting.
To formally record an abstention confirms that you indeed decline to vote on the matter in hand but doesn't answer why you decline and leaves that question to the electorate especially if it is a recorded vote.