Withdrawing issue's negative votes (3)
I believe the answer is:
nos
'negative votes' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'withdrawing issue's' is the wordplay.
'withdrawing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'issue' becomes 'son' (issue can mean someone's offspring).
'son' written backwards gives 'NOS'.
(Other definitions for nos that I've seen before include "Numbers (abbr.)" , "they opposed" , "Issue back > numbers" , "Numbers (abbreviation)" , "rejections" .)