Paper ballots

[Guest Margaret]

Last year our organization voted to allow paper ballots "following Roberts Rules of Order". The membership at the time understood that to mean that we needed a 2/3 vote of the members present (members eligible to vote who were present) in order to go forward with the paper ballot.

For a year we have followed this process. Now, a member who called for a paper ballot at the last meeting (he did not get 2/3 of the vote) is claiming that he only needed a majority vote for his request to carry.

What is the proper proceedure for calling for a paper ballot?

Thank you

[George Mervosh]

A motion to vote by ballot requires a majority vote for its adoption, without debate. See §30. MOTIONS RELATING TO METHODS OF VOTING AND THE POLLS beginning on p. 283 in RONR (11th ed.).

[Dan Honemann]

Last year our organization voted to allow paper ballots "following Roberts Rules of Order". The membership at the time understood that to mean that we needed a 2/3 vote of the members present (members eligible to vote who were present) in order to go forward with the paper ballot.

Where in the world did they get this ridiculous idea?

[Gary Novosielski]

Last year our organization voted to allow paper ballots "following Roberts Rules of Order". The membership at the time understood that to mean that we needed a 2/3 vote of the members present (members eligible to vote who were present) in order to go forward with the paper ballot.

Which is another way of saying that the membership at the time did not understand.

Inform the members that only a majority vote is needed.