The voting process

The voting process within the Conclave is carried out in three phases. The first phase, which can be called the pre-scrutiny, comprises: 

• the preparation and distribution of the ballot papers by the Masters of Ceremonies, who give at least two or three to each Cardinal elector; 
• the drawing by lot, from among all the Cardinal electors, of three Scrutineers, of three persons charged with collecting the votes of the sick, called for the sake of brevity Infirmarii, and of three Revisers; this drawing is carried out in public by the junior Cardinal Deacon, who draws out nine names, one after another, of those who shall carry out these tasks; 
• if, in the drawing of lots for the Scrutineers, Infirmarii and Revisers, there should come out the names of Cardinal electors who because of infirmity or other reasons are unable to carry out these tasks, the names of others who are not impeded are to be drawn in their place. The first three drawn will act as Scrutineers, the second three as Infirmarii and the last three as Revisers. (UDG, 64)

The ballot paper is rectangular in shape and bears the printed words Elegio in Summum Pontificem (tarnslation: I elect as Supreme Pontiff) in the upper half of the sheet.  In the lower half of the sheet, there is a space left for the name of the person elected to be written.  The layout of the ballot is therefore such that it can be folded in two.

Each of the Cardinal electors must write the name of the one he wishes to be elected in such a way that his handwriting cannot be identified with him.  Only one name may be written on each ballot, otherwise the ballot is deemed void.  Once he has written the name of is choice, each Cardinal folds the ballot twice.

During the voting, the Cardinal electors must remain alone in the Sistine Chapel; therefore, immediately after the distribution of the ballots and before the electors begin to write, the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and the Masters of Ceremonies must leave the Chapel. After they have left, the junior Cardinal Deacon, His Eminence, James Michael Cardinal Harvey shall close the door, opening and closing it again each time this is necessary, as for example when the Infirmarii go to collect the votes of the sick and when they return to the Chapel. (UDG, 65)

Each Cardinal elector, in order of precedence, having completed and folded his ballot, holds it up so that it can be seen and carries it to the altar, at which the Scrutineers stand and upon which there is placed a receptacle, covered by a plate, for receiving the ballots. Having reached the altar, the Cardinal elector says aloud the words of the following oath: I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected. He then places the ballot on the plate, with which he drops it into the receptacle. Having done this, he bows to the altar and returns to his place. (UDG, 66)

Newly crafted urns were first used in the 2005 Conclave

Provisions are also outlined in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis to allow infirmed Cardinals and any Cardinals present in the Sistine Chapel who are unable to walk, to cast their votes.

After all the ballots of the Cardinal electors have been placed in the receptacle, the first Scrutineer shakes it several times in order to mix them, and immediately afterwards the last Scrutineer proceeds to count them, picking them out of the urn in full view and placing them in another empty receptacle previously prepared for this purpose. If the number of ballots does not correspond to the number of electors, the ballots must all be burned and a second vote taken at once; if however their number does correspond to the number of electors, the opening of the ballots then takes place.

The Scrutineers sit at a table placed in front of the altar. The first of them takes a ballot, unfolds it, notes the name of the person chosen and passes the ballot to the second Scrutineer, who in his turn notes the name of the person chosen and passes the ballot to the third, who reads it out in a loud and clear voice, so that all the electors present can record the vote on a sheet of paper prepared for that purpose. He himself writes down the name read from the ballot. If during the opening of the ballots the Scrutineers should discover two ballots folded in such a way that they appear to have been completed by one elector, if these ballots bear the same name they are counted as one vote; if however they bear two different names, neither vote will be valid; however, in neither of the two cases is the voting session annulled.

When all the ballots have been opened, the Scrutineers add up the sum of the votes obtained by the different names and write them down on a separate sheet of paper. The last Scrutineer, as he reads out the individual ballots, pierces each one with a needle through the word Eligo and places it on a thread, so that the ballots can be more securely preserved. After the names have been read out, the ends of the thread are tied in a knot, and the ballots thus joined together are placed in a receptacle or on one side of the table. (UDG, 68-69)

When the counting is complete, the ballots must be verified by the Revisers, and if they concur with the count, then the totals of votes garnered by each of the Cardinals is announced.  If one of them has achieved the requisite number of votes (in this case 77), the election is said to have taken place.  If not, then the ballots are burned, and preparations are made for the next round of voting.

With the exception of the afternoon on which the Cardinals enter into the Conclave, both in the morning and in the afternoon, the Cardinals proceed to a second vote in which they are to express their view anew.  In this second ballot all the formalities of the previous one are observed, with the difference that the electors are not bound to take a new oath or to choose new Scrutineers, Infirmarii and Revisers. Everything done in this regard for the first ballot is considered valid for the second one, without the need for any repetition.

Should the Cardinal electors find it difficult to reach the two-thirds majority after three continuous days of voting, voting is suspended for a maximum of one day in order to allow a pause for prayer, informal discussion among the voters and a brief spiritual exhortation.  Then they return to the process of voting.  Provisions are also made at three day intervals for further pauses, prayer, discussion and spiritual exhortation if necessary.  If three such interventions are required, then the Cardinal Camerlengo is authorized to invite discussion among the Cardinal electors and a subequent vote taken.  In this event, the election is said to have taken place if an absolute majority is reached.

When the election is said to have taken place, the one elected must accept and chooses his name before the ballots are burned to produce the white fumata.

The new Pope dresses in the papal vestments. A brief ceremony follows, including the recitation of a Gospel reading (Tu es Petrus - Mt 16:18 - or another passage referring to the Petrine ministry), prayer, the cardinals’ act of homage, and the Te Deum.

The Cardinal proto-deacon goes to the Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and announces that the election has taken place. Meanwhile, the Pope goes to the Pauline Chapel for a short prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  The Pope then goes to the Loggia for the first Urbi et Orbi blessing (an announcement of indulgence is made as at Christmas and Easter).

In 2005, the black fumata of the morning took place at 11:52am. The white fumata after the first vote of the afternoon occurred at 5:50pm.  From the fumata and the ringing of the bells to the Proto-deacon’s announcement about 45 minutes passed and less than 10 minutes later the new Pope appeared and gave his blessing.

Vatican Television will transmit live images of the chimney at the possible times of the fumata.

Once the Pontiff is elected, arrangements are made for the Mass inaugurating the new Pontificate.  Deatils about this celebration will be communicated once the election of the Bishop of Rome has taken place.