jstackpo Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:39 PM Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:39 PM To save you the trouble of looking it up, the lines referenced in the topic title say: "...although it should be noted that a member need not be present when the question is put". This is in the context of the requirement to be "actually present" in order to vote on an issue. But... p. 44 ff. clearly defines "putting the question" as the act by the chair of calling for the vote: "All those in favor...say 'aye' ". So if the member is out of the room when the question is put, it sure doesn't seem to me that he is going to be able to vote -- so what does the "...although it should be noted..." sentence/rule do for him? About the only thing I can think of is if the vote is by ballot, counted rising vote, or roll call, (or some other system that takes an appreciable time to complete) the absent member will have time to rush back into the meeting room while the voting process is going on, and vote. He can't be denied that right just because he was out of the room when the voting process was initiated. And, of course, the issue is a bit clouded by the "should" rule on p. 411, lines 13-14 which asserts that "no one should enter or leave the hall while a count is being taken". Do others read things differently? If so, how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:49 PM Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:49 PM To save you the trouble of looking it up, the lines referenced in the topic title say: "...although it should be noted that a member need not be present when the question is put". This is in the context of the requirement to be "actually present" in order to vote on an issue. But... p. 44 ff. clearly defines "putting the question" as the act by the chair of calling for the vote: "All those in favor...say 'aye' ". So if the member is out of the room when the question is put, it sure doesn't seem to me that he is going to be able to vote -- so what does the "...although it should be noted..." sentence/rule do for him? About the only thing I can think of is if the vote is by ballot, counted rising vote, or roll call, (or some other system that takes an appreciable time to complete) the absent member will have time to rush back into the meeting room while the voting process is going on, and vote. He can't be denied that right just because he was out of the room when the voting process was initiated. And, of course, the issue is a bit clouded by the "should" rule on p. 411, lines 13-14 which asserts that "no one should enter or leave the hall while a count is being taken". Do others read things differently? If so, how? I think you're correct that the rule on pg. 243 has very limited application. It involves a situation in which a member arrives after the question is put, but before the vote is completed. As a practical matter, this is only likely to happen if the vote is taken by ballot or roll call. As you note, the doors are generally closed for a counted vote (to ensure an accurate count), and other types of votes take such a short period of time that the situation is unlikely to arise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:50 PM Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 at 06:50 PM There's going to be a very tight window if it's a voice vote, John, but in large assemblies, particularly conventions, they don't usually vote by voice and people continually come and go. If you make it to Portland this year, you'll see a real-life example of this rule's applicability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted July 3, 2013 at 08:42 PM Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 at 08:42 PM I'm not going to make it to Portland, this September, but I'll be ready for the earthquake. I think you're correct that the rule on pg. 243 has very limited application. It involves a situation in which a member arrives after the question is put, but before the vote is completed. As a practical matter, this is only likely to happen if the vote is taken by ballot or roll call. As you note, the doors are generally closed for a counted vote (to ensure an accurate count), and other types of votes take such a short period of time that the situation is unlikely to arise. Another possibility, since we are writing fiction here (unless George M. puts it in practice in Portland), is that the absent member rushes in just as the "No" vote is being taken by voice, and immediately calls for a Division of the Assembly. Then he gets to vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GM3 Posted July 3, 2013 at 11:39 PM Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 at 11:39 PM John I was thinking of people going into the hall and grabbing a keypad as they do and voting either yes or no in the semi generous required time allotment. A fast ballot vote, if you will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted July 7, 2013 at 11:26 AM Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2013 at 11:26 AM That's another reasonable possibility, which raises a different question (which I'll pose in a new topic: Has Technology made "Division of the Assembly" obsolete? Don't respond here!). [Corrected "Division of Question" to "Division of Assembly"] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted November 3, 2013 at 12:04 PM Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 at 12:04 PM That's another reasonable possibility, which raises a different question (which I'll pose in a new topic: Has Technology made "Division of the Assembly" obsolete? Don't respond here!). [Corrected "Division of Question" to "Division of Assembly"] Did anything get posted with respect to this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weldon Merritt Posted November 3, 2013 at 04:23 PM Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 at 04:23 PM Did anything get posted with respect to this?I haven't seen anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary c Tesser Posted November 3, 2013 at 06:43 PM Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 at 06:43 PM I haven't seen anything.Can someone with a computer do a word-search for "Stackpole" plus "Don't respond here!)."? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted November 3, 2013 at 06:56 PM Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 at 06:56 PM Can someone with a computer do a word-search for "Stackpole" plus "Don't respond here!)."? Found one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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