abstain from voting

Meaning

This phrase means to formally choose not to cast a ballot or make a choice in an election, board meeting, or formal decision-making process. It is often a deliberate decision made when a person feels neutral, lacks information, or has a conflict of interest.

Examples

• Because she was friends with both candidates, she decided to abstain from voting.

  Because she was friends with both candidates, she decided to abstain from voting.

• Several committee members chose to abstain from voting on the controversial proposal.

  Several committee members chose to abstain from voting on the controversial proposal.

• If you do not have enough information about the issue, you can always abstain from voting.

  If you do not have enough information about the issue, you can always abstain from voting.

• He had a conflict of interest, so he was legally required to abstain from voting.

  He had a conflict of interest, so he was legally required to abstain from voting.

• The motion passed with ten votes in favor, two against, and three who decided to abstain from voting.

  The motion passed with ten votes in favor, two against, and three who decided to abstain from voting.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He abstained of voting because he didn't care.

  ✓ He abstained from voting because he didn't care.

  The verb 'abstain' always takes the preposition 'from,' not 'of.'

• ✗ She decided to abstain voting on the new budget.

  ✓ She decided to abstain from voting on the new budget.

  You cannot omit the preposition 'from' before the gerund 'voting.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• Since he owned shares in the competing company, the board member had to ___.

  💡 choose not to cast a vote

  Show answer

  abstain from voting

• You don't have to support either side; you have the right to ___.

  💡 formally decline to vote

  Show answer

  abstain from voting