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Electronic Voting


Guest Sandra Parker

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There are several important points in Robert's Rules about electronic meetings. They are contained on pages 97 through 99 of the 11th Edition of RONR.

The first point is that such meetings must be authorized in an organization's bylaws.

The second is that to meet RONR's standard of what constitutes a "meeting," the technology must, at a minimum, allow "simultaneous aural communication among all participating members . . ." (RONR pg. 98, ll. 25-26).

Third is that the bylaws should be specific about which entities may meet electronically (The full assembly? The board? Any committee?). 

Next, there should be a statement about whether such participation is a "right," or whether "the body may choose to allow or disallow such participation" (RONR pg. 98 ln. 34 - pg. 99, ln. 1). 

Finally, there are some additional miscellaneous rules that should be considered - about meeting notices, etc., and perhaps including rules related to specific technologies and, for instance, how a member participating electronically may "seek recognition," question the presence of a quorum, etc.

So then, wording to simply begin allowing electronic meetings (or participation of one or two members electronically) might say something like, "[name of organization] and any of its boards or committees may meet electronically with the permission of the President or the entity's chairman, provided the technology used allows all members to hear each other simultaneously. Each entity may develop its own rules for how members meeting electronically may seek recognition, vote, and exercise other rights." 

But you may find that over time, more specificity and/or details are necessary.

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  • 2 years later...
1 hour ago, Guest Truck said:

In times of Lockdown, I am looking for copy of Robert rules of Order 111th edition soft copy. Can you provide the same . I am on point of votinf electronically.

Raamswamy Seshan

India

eemail  ramsmy@hotmail.com

You can order the 11th edition through either Amazon or the National Association of Parliamentarians.  However, the 12th edition is expected to be out in a few months. 

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  • 2 months later...

We are NPO and do not have e meetings or e votings in our bylaws. In this time of lockdown, we cannot have the general meeting to change the bylaws to include the wordings on e meetings and e votings. What is the best way to change the bylaws in this situation?

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5 minutes ago, Guest Y. R. K said:

We are NPO and do not have e meetings or e votings in our bylaws. In this time of lockdown, we cannot have the general meeting to change the bylaws to include the wordings on e meetings and e votings. What is the best way to change the bylaws in this situation?

The best way to change your bylaws is to follow the procedure set forth in them for doing so. If you cannot have the sort of meeting required to change the bylaws you cannot change them.

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