The president and voting

[Guest Leone Jensvold]

Does the president have a right to vote at board meetings? Some say only if a tie. Our bylaws do not say one way or the other.

[hmtcastle]

Does the president have a right to vote at board meetings? Some say only if a tie. Our bylaws do not say one way or the other.

See FAQ #1.

And, in meetings of "small" boards (where not more than about a dozen members are present), the presiding officer is free to fully participate.

[jstackpo]

"Some" are wrong.

In a small (<12 or so) board the president is or can be a full participant. In a regular membership meeting he should refrain from voting unless it could make a difference (and he cared to make that difference). Ballot vote: vote along with all the other members.

[Gary Novosielski]

Some say only if a tie.

A common misconception.

In fact, the chair may choose to vote any time his one vote would make a difference in the outcome, such as to break a tie (thus adopting the motion), to create a tie (thus defeating the motion) or in situations where a 2/3 (or other non-majority) vote is nearly, or just barely, achieved (thus reversing the outcome), as well as any time the vote is by ballot, and (as in your situation) in meetings of small boards.