Voting by Ballot

[mjr2inquire]

I see that FAQ #1 states the President can vote in other circumstances than to break a tie if the vote is by ballot, not verbal.

Is voting by ballot allowed for only certain purposes (as in, perhaps, elections), or can the motion maker (or someone else) request that the vote on a particular motion by taken by ballot rather than verbally? How and when is that request made?

Your advice is eagerly awaited and greatly appreciated.

[Dan Honemann]

I see that FAQ #1 states the President can vote in other circumstances than to break a tie if the vote is by ballot, not verbal.

Is voting by ballot allowed for only certain purposes (as in, perhaps, elections), or can the motion maker (or someone else) request that the vote on a particular motion by taken by ballot rather than verbally? How and when is that request made?

Your advice is eagerly awaited and greatly appreciated.

Any member may move that the vote be by ballot on any question on which the assembly is called upon to vote, and the assembly then decides whether or not to do so. Such a motion may be made either before the question to be voted on is pending, while it is pending, or immediately after it has been voted on by one of the regular methods of voting. See Section 30 of RONR (10th ed.) for details.

[Tim Wynn]

I see that FAQ #1 states the President can vote in other circumstances than to break a tie if the vote is by ballot, not verbal.

Is voting by ballot allowed for only certain purposes (as in, perhaps, elections), or can the motion maker (or someone else) request that the vote on a particular motion by taken by ballot rather than verbally? How and when is that request made?

Your advice is eagerly awaited and greatly appreciated.

You reference the chair voting. However, a ballot is generally used when the assembly feels a more accurate representation of the will of the voters will be obtained from their not having to reveal how they voted. The use of a ballot just for the purpose of allowing the chair to vote would be a waste of time, unless secrecy would change his deciding vote, since, if his vote would affect the outcome, he's free to vote regardless of the voting method.

[Sean Hunt]

I see that FAQ #1 states the President can vote in other circumstances than to break a tie if the vote is by ballot, not verbal.

Watch out for the misconception that the President votes only to break a tie. This is not true. The President votes only if his vote makes a difference, and a tie defeats the motion if it requires a majority to adopt (except for on an Appeal, where a tie sustains the decision of the chair). The difference is that if there is one more vote in the affirmative than votes in the negative, the President is allowed to cast a vote against the motion, bringing it to a tie and defeating it.

[Tim Wynn]

Watch out for the misconception that the President votes only to break a tie. This is not true. The President votes only if his vote makes a difference, and a tie defeats the motion if it requires a majority to adopt (except for on an Appeal, where a tie sustains the decision of the chair). The difference is that if there is one more vote in the affirmative than votes in the negative, the President is allowed to cast a vote against the motion, bringing it to a tie and defeating it.

... not to mention a two-thirds vote.