Modalities for the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development A/RES/70/303 2. Except as otherwise provided in the present rules, decisions of the Conference on all matters of procedure shall be taken by a majority of the re presentatives present and voting. 3. If the question arises whether a matter is one of procedure or of substance, the presiding President of the Conference shall rule on the question. An appeal against that ruling shall be immediately put to the vote, and the presiding President’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the representatives present and voting. 4. If a vote is equally divided, the proposal or motion shall be regarded as rejected. Rule 36 Meaning of the phrase “representatives present and voting” For the purpose of the present rules, the phrase “representatives present and voting” means representatives casting an affirmative or negative vote. Representatives who abstain from voting shall be regarded as not voting. Rule 37 Method of voting 1. Except as provided in rule 44, the Conference shall normally vote by show of hands, except that a representative may request a roll call, which shall then be taken in the English alphabetical order of the names of the States participating in the Conference, beginning with the delegation whose name is drawn by lot by the presiding President. The name of each State shall be called in all roll calls, and its representative shall reply “yes”, “no” or “abstention”. 2. When the Conference votes by mechanical means, a non-recorded vote shall replace a vote by show of hands and a recorded vote shall replace a roll call. A representative may request a recorded vote, which shall, unless a representative requests otherwise, be taken without calling out the names of the States participating in the Conference. 3. The vote of each State participating in a roll-call or a recorded vote shall be inserted in any record of or report on the meeting. Rule 38 Conduct during voting After the presiding President has announced the commencement of voting, no representative shall interrupt the voting, except on a point of order in connection with the process of voting. Rule 39 Explanation of vote Representatives may make brief statements, consisting solely of explanations of vote, before the voting has commenced or after the voting has been completed. The presiding President may limit the time to be allowed for such explanations. The representative of a State sponsoring a proposal or motion shall not speak in explanation of vote thereon, except if it has been amended. 16/22