And, Robert,

No vote was taken in Acts 15.

Acts 15 was about leadership, not authority.  When leadership is successful, authority is inherent.  When leadership fails, authority is neutered.

The word 'vote' does not appear in the KJV. The closest thing to casting a vote in scripture is casting lots.  Acts 15 didn't cast lots.

I'm thinking a church is a superorganism, like an ant colony or a city or a tribe.  It lives across generations.  It may well be the explanation for why the current Pope looks about himself in the church and offers, "Who am I to judge?"