Where can I find a list of vetoes? How does the Security Council vote on draft resolutions?
Last Updated: Apr 22, 2025
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The information displayed below comes from the UN Voting Research Guide.
Voting in the Security Council
Article 27 of the UN Charter, and rule 40 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure, concern voting in the Security Council.
Analysis of Security Council voting can be found in the Repertory of Practice of UN Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council.
Most Security Council resolutions are adopted by vote.
Official voting information is found in:
- The meeting record for the meeting at which the vote was taken
- The annual cumulations of the resolutions
In general, to be adopted, a draft resolution on a non-procedural matter must have the affirmative vote of nine members of the Council, including the concurring votes of the five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.
A draft does not pass:
-
If the draft fails to win nine votes, or
-
If a permanent member casts a negative vote (veto)
Following a vote, the President of the Security Council announces the result. The way the vote result is announced indicates whether a veto was exercised (emphasis added).
- Adopted
- "There were 14 votes in favour and one abstaining. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2244 (2015)." (S/PV.7541)
- Vetoed
- "There were 11 votes in favour, 1 vote against and 3 abstentions. The draft resolution has not been adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Council." (S/PV.7498)
- Not adopted
- "There were 8 votes in favour, 2 votes against and 5 abstentions. The draft resolution has not been adopted, having failed to obtain the required number of votes." (S/PV.7354)
- Procedural matter
- "There were 10 votes in favour, 4 votes against and 1 abstention. The provisional agenda has been adopted." (S/PV.5526)
Decisions taken by vote may be of two general types:
- Procedural matters
- Affirmative vote of 9 members
- All other matters
- Affirmative vote of 9 members, including the concurring votes of permanent members
From the Repertoire website:
Most votes in the Council do not indicate by themselves whether the Council considers the matter voted upon as procedural or non-procedural. It can be determined, however, because permanent members do not have a “veto” over procedural matters. Therefore, if there is a negative vote by a permanent member, and the motion is still adopted, it is procedural in nature.
Information here about the types of vote has been adapted from the Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council, which includes more detailed analysis of the votes in the Council.
Additional Research Resources
- Repertoire of the Practice of the Security CouncilProvides comprehensive coverage of the Security Council’s interpretation and application of the United Nations Charter and its own Provisional Rules of Procedure since 1946.
Related Research Guides
Documentary Sources for Security Council Voting Information
There are multiple sources for Security Council voting information, including:
- Meeting record (Official record)
- example: S/PV.7853
- Compilation of resolutions and decisions (Official record)
- example: S/INF/70
- Search in the UN Digital Library for Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council
- Voting Data in UN Digital Library
- example: S/RES/2334(2016)
- Summary in Security Council Meetings & Outcomes tables
- Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council
- Press release
- example: SC/12657
- Index to Proceedings
- DGACM visualizations and machine readability page, from 2020
- UN Peace & Security Data Hub: Security Council Data - Vetoes Since 1946
The vote is recorded in the meeting record of the meeting at which the vote was held. When a draft resolution is adopted, the meeting number and date can be found just below the resolution number.
Security Council voting information for adopted resolutions can be retrieved through the United Nations Digital Library.
As of 1976, a voting chart is available in the Index to Proceedings of the Security Council.
The vote is also recorded in the annual compilation of resolutions of the Security Council.
A summary of the vote, including vetoes, can be found in the Security Council Meetings & Actions Tables.
Links & Files
- Research Guide : UN Security Council Documentation : Voting Opens in new window
- Research Guide : Quick Links : UN Security Council Meetings & Outcomes Opens in new window
- Research Guide : Quick Links : UN Security Council Veto List Opens in new window
- Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council: Procedural Issues: Voting Opens in new window
- Security Council Report: Special Research Report on the Veto Opens in new window
- Library catalogue search for title: The Procedure of the Security Council, 4th ed., by Sievers and Daws Opens in new window
- YouTube: About UN Documents: Meeting Records Opens in new window
- YouTube: About UN Documents: Security Council Resolutions Opens in new window
- YouTube: How to Find Voting Data Opens in new window
- Ask DAG: How can I find information about draft resolutions not adopted? Opens in new window
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: answers are prepared by library staff using resources available at the time of writing. This site may include links and references to third-party databases, websites, books and articles, this does not imply endorsement by the United Nations.
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