# Deciding Vote
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> Source revision: 1344206683
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Deciding Vote
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = {{Plainlist|
* [Jeremy Workman](/source/Jeremy_Workman)
* Robert J. Lyons
}}
| screenplay =
| story =
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* [Jeremy Workman](/source/Jeremy_Workman)
* Robert J. Lyons
* Doron Steger
* Sherry Steger
}}
| starring =
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Gabriella Garcia-Pardo
* Karen Rodriguez
* Lynn Weissman
* Michael Lisnet
}}
| editing = Kristin Bye
| music = Olivier and Clare Manchon
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* Wheelhouse Creative
}}
| distributor = [The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)
| released = {{Film date|2023|11|29|}}
| runtime = 20 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Deciding Vote''''' is a 2023 American short [documentary film](/source/documentary_film) about Assemblyman [George M. Michaels](/source/George_M._Michaels) and his tie-breaking vote on the 1970 New York abortion bill. It was directed by [Jeremy Workman](/source/Jeremy_Workman) and Robert J. Lyons.[{{Citation |last=Lyons |first=Robert J. |title=Deciding Vote |date=2023-11-29 |type=Short |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27601146/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |others=George M. Michaels |publisher=Wheelhouse Creative |last2=Workman |first2=Jeremy}}]
First presented at numerous film festivals, ''Deciding Vote'' was released by [The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker) on November 29, 2023.[{{Cite news |last=Yorker |first=The New |date=2023-11-29 |title=Revisiting New York's Historic Abortion Law in “Deciding Vote” |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/revisiting-new-yorks-historic-abortion-law-in-deciding-vote |access-date=2025-02-10 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}] It was Oscar Shortlisted for Best Short Documentary and then subsequently nominated for Most Outstanding Short Documentary at the [45th News and Documentary Emmy Awards](/source/45th_News_and_Documentary_Emmy_Awards).[{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Daniel |date=2024-07-27 |title=2024 News and Documentary Emmy nominations: 45th annual contenders in all categories |url=https://www.goldderby.com/feature/2024-news-and-documentary-emmy-nominations-list-1205895545/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=GoldDerby |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2023-12-21 |title=Oscar Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories: 'Barbie' Leads the Way |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/2024-oscars-shortlist-barbie-1235843930/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |title=96th Oscars Shortlists in 10 Award Categories Announced |url=https://press.oscars.org/news/96th-oscarsr-shortlists-10-award-categories-announced |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=press.oscars.org |language=en}}]
== Synopsis ==
More than 50 years ago, Assemblyman [George M. Michaels](/source/George_M._Michaels) cast a single vote on New York's abortion bill that changed the course of American history but destroyed his political career in the process.[{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Propes |date=May 15, 2003 |title=Movie Review: Deciding Date |url=https://theindependentcritic.com/deciding_vote |url-status= |access-date=February 10, 2025 |website=The Independent Critic}}]
== Reception ==
The film won several film festival awards and received positive reviews.[{{Cite web |title=Indy Shorts International Film Festival Concludes with a Record-Breaking Year and Announces Academy Award®-Qualifying Winners |url=https://heartlandfilm.prowly.com/252828-indy-shorts-international-film-festival-concludes-with-a-record-breaking-year-and-announces-academy-award-qualifying-winners |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=heartlandfilm.prowly.com |language=en}}][{{Cite web |title=Award Winners from the 24th Annual Woodstock Film Festival |url=https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/blog/2023/10/2/24th-annual-woodstock-film-festival-announces-2023-award-winners-2hwkj |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Woodstock Film Festival |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Christopher Llewellyn |date=2023-06-21 |title=That’s a Wrap at DC/DOX 2023 {{!}} Film Festival Today |url=https://filmfestivaltoday.com/fft-festival-coverage/thats-a-wrap-at-dc-dox-2023 |access-date=2025-02-10 |language=en}}] Critic Jennie Kermode of ''Eye For Film'' called it "a vital piece of filmmaking."[{{Cite web |title=Deciding Vote - Film Review |url=https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/deciding-vote-2023-film-review-by-jennie-kermode |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Eye For Film |language=en}}]
Film critic Richard Propes of [The Independent](/source/The_Independent) Critic stated that "the film rather magnificently captures the relatively unsung story of [George Michaels](/source/George_M._Michaels), a former New York Assemblyman who in 1970 represented a conservative Catholic district during a time when the pro-choice/abortion rights movement was growing."