Jeff Hagan Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:33 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:33 PM An issue came up at our club election on Monday night. I hope you can either confirm that I handled it properly or point out where I went wrong: During nominations for club officer elections, one member (call her A) surprised another member (call her B ) by nominating her for president. During discussion, B said that she did not want to be president and asked to decline the nomination. Before the meeting while reviewing RONR, I hadn't seen any way to "un-nominate" someone. Also, our by-laws don't require nominee consent when nominating from the floor. I told her that the nomination would stand, but that the members should take what she said into account when voting. Was this correct? Is there a better way to handle this situation? (BTW: looks like the members did take what she said to heart. She got no votes.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:34 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:34 PM That sounds correct to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:45 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:45 PM It sounds correct to me, too. If she had been elected anyway, she could have declined to serve, provided she did so immediately if she was present at the election. Not many people would know that RONR does not provide for declining a nomination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Hagan Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:57 PM Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 05:57 PM Thanks. It seemed counter-intuitive because the idea of declining a nomination is so familiar. Something that occurred to me later: would the person who made the nomination be able to undo the nomination with a request to withdraw or modify a motion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Hunt Posted May 4, 2016 at 06:21 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 06:21 PM I don't have my copy of the Rules on me, but my memory is that a nomination can be unilaterally withdrawn, until nominations close, at which point it can only be withdrawn by unanimous consent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Katz Posted May 4, 2016 at 08:34 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 08:34 PM 2 hours ago, Jeff Hagan said: Thanks. It seemed counter-intuitive because the idea of declining a nomination is so familiar. Something that occurred to me later: would the person who made the nomination be able to undo the nomination with a request to withdraw or modify a motion? Yes, like many incorrect things, such as tabling a motion to the next meeting (last weekend, I actually had a chair listen to me when I whispered to him about that!), approving the Treasurer's report, seconding a nomination... I think that scripts for nominations should specify that every nomination will be seconded, and the chair will then say "nominations do not require a second. Are there further nominations?" at which point, probably, someone will nominate someone, and someone will scream "second!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted May 4, 2016 at 09:59 PM Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 at 09:59 PM (edited) 4 hours ago, Jeff Hagan said: Thanks. It seemed counter-intuitive because the idea of declining a nomination is so familiar. Something that occurred to me later: would the person who made the nomination be able to undo the nomination with a request to withdraw or modify a motion? 3 hours ago, Sean Hunt said: I don't have my copy of the Rules on me, but my memory is that a nomination can be unilaterally withdrawn, until nominations close, at which point it can only be withdrawn by unanimous consent. I'm not aware of any provision in RONR that allows this. It is my understanding that nominations cannot be withdrawn, period. If there is an exception, I would like to know about it myself. Note: It is possible that the language on pages 295-296 about withdrawing a motion would apply to nominations, but I have never looked at it that way nor heard it mentioned by anyone else. It is an interesting question. Edited May 4, 2016 at 10:03 PM by Richard Brown Added last paragraph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Mervosh Posted May 5, 2016 at 01:12 PM Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 at 01:12 PM 15 hours ago, Richard Brown said: I'm not aware of any provision in RONR that allows this. It is my understanding that nominations cannot be withdrawn, period. If there is an exception, I would like to know about it myself. Note: It is possible that the language on pages 295-296 about withdrawing a motion would apply to nominations, but I have never looked at it that way nor heard it mentioned by anyone else. It is an interesting question. I haven't either. While making a nomination is classified a motion (tinted page 18, motion 49), it is, in effect a proposal to fill a blank. Even if you believe it can be withdrawn under the rules on p. 295ff you're not going to get a chance to unilaterally withdraw it. {Member} "I nominate Richard Brown" {Chair} "Richard Brown has been nominated"........right there ends your chance to unilaterally withdraw it since it has been stated. There's just no time. So I respectfully disagree with Mr. Hunt's timeline, unless someone cares to elaborate on why his timeline is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Hunt Posted May 6, 2016 at 01:22 AM Report Share Posted May 6, 2016 at 01:22 AM In retrospect, I think I had myself confused with notices. Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hello! Posted June 10, 2021 at 10:20 AM Report Share Posted June 10, 2021 at 10:20 AM Hello, I am a child and I was wondering what it means to decline a nomination and by doing so, what would happen? Thanks for your time, Your Fellow American Child Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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