Delegates

[Watson]

The number of delegates which our association may send to a national meeting is based on our total current membership. At a previous meeting five delegates were elected instead of the alloted four. When this mistake is brought to the attention of the members at the next meeting, what should be the proper course of action to remove one delegate? Thank you.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

The number of delegates which our association may send to a national meeting is based on our total current membership. At a previous meeting five delegates were elected instead of the alloted four. When this mistake is brought to the attention of the members at the next meeting, what should be the proper course of action to remove one delegate? Thank you.

You will have to strike out one name from that adopted list.

See the motion, "Amend Something Previously Adopted" in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th ed. 2000).

[jstackpo]

Or, possibly, if the delegates were elected one at a time -- five rounds of voting -- the "5th election" could be (quite properly) ruled out of order (since all the slots had been filled at that time) and that 5th name simply dropped.

Or (I'm just full of suggestions - or something) if the election of delegates was by plurality (or even if by majority, I suppose) but all on one ballot, the one with the fewest votes could be dropped also. RONR, p. 427, endorses that approach.

But if you just voted for a list (all five at once, a "slate") then Kim's suggestion is the only viable one.

[Chris Harrison]

You will have to strike out one name from that adopted list.

See the motion, "Amend Something Previously Adopted" in Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (10th ed. 2000).

But one of them was invalidly elected wouldn't that person be the one who would go if they knew who it was? Also, per p. 298 wouldn't it be improper to Amend any of the elections if they were present at the election or have already been notified of it?

[Robert B Fish]

Until we know how the election was conducted, it is not possible to determine whether it is apparent which nomination will be declared out of order. It could be obvious which one or it could require a new election with "vote for 4" instead of "vote for 5."

-Bob

[Josh Martin]

But one of them was invalidly elected wouldn't that person be the one who would go if they knew who it was?

If this can be determined, sure. That may or may not be possible. Of course, since the assembly may replace members of the delegation (see below), it ultimately could pick the person who was invalidly elected over another member if it wished to.

Also, per p. 298 wouldn't it be improper to Amend any of the elections if they were present at the election or have already been notified of it?

No. What is said on pg. 298, lines 1-8 refers to an election to membership or to office. A delegation is in the nature of a committee, so the appointing authority is free to remove or replace members. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 587, lines 3-8; pg. 169, lines 30-32)