What is an eligible vote?

[Guest WH]

The following statement is found below in context: “The candidate who receives a majority of the eligible votes is declared the

Department’s nominee.”

The question is what is “a majority of the eligible votes?” Is it majority of the valid votes cast, or majority of the votes of the eligible faculty?

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Eligibility to Participate in the Chair Selection Process

All faculty (as defined in Section 2x.2.1) in a Department are eligible to vote, ...

Selection of the Nominee by the Department

...

The candidate who receives a majority of the eligible votes is declared the

Department’s nominee for Chairperson, ...

__________________

Thanks.

[Robert B Fish]

Only your organization can decide with authority what that section means. However, I'd say that a potential vote is not an actual vote until it is cast. In other words, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast by those eligible voters who are present and voting in order to be elected. If, due to multiple candidates running, no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, you have an incomplete election and must revote.

-Bob

[David A Foulkes]

All faculty (as defined in Section 2x.2.1) in a Department are eligible to vote, ...

This snippet only declares that all faculty are eligible to vote. It does not indicate that there aren't more eligible non-faculty voters. A careful and thorough read of your rules is needed, and should any interpretation be required, it will be up to the organization to handle that. Pages 570-573 (RONR 10th Edition) offer guidelines in this. Interpretation of your rules is beyond the scope of this forum. I don't believe you'll find the phrase "eligible votes" in The Book anyway.