When a committee has given an equal number of votes for and against a proposal, the chairperson can give a casting vote. This vote decides whether or not the proposal will be passed.
Only Mr King's casting vote secured the rate rise.
casting vote in British English
noun
the deciding vote used by the presiding officer of an assembly when votes cast on both sides are equal in number
casting vote in American English
or casting voice
the deciding vote cast by the presiding officer when the voting on both sides isequal
Examples of 'casting vote' in a sentence
casting vote
Who do you give your casting vote to?
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
Politicians should always listen to scientific advice, and should usually heed it, but they are not always obliged to give science the casting vote.