Voting via phone

[Guest Tim]

Can a member call in his vote during elections for officers or board members?

There is no provision for this in our by-laws, nor is there any mention of proxy votes or mailed in ballots.

[Trina]

If the bylaws don't provide for it, absentee voting is not permitted under RONR.

See RONR (11th ed.) p. 423 ll.17-23.

[Guest Tim]

So would the election held where this, "phone proxy vote," was counted would be null and void? If so, should I ask that the election results be stricken from the minutes of the previous meeting and how would we proceed with a new election?

[Trina]

Did the one vote by phone affect the outcome of the election?

In any case, the minutes should reflect what atually happened -- it is not proper to change the minutes in an attempt to change history.

[jstackpo]

Null? Not unless you can tell from the number of proxy and in person votes cast whether the proxy votes would or could have made a difference. Rule of thumb: If the number of (improper/illegal) proxy votes is equal to or greater than the difference between the "Yea" and "No" votes, they could make a difference.

Minutes: No: NOT strike anything historical from minutes - they reflect, or should reflect, what happened, right or wrong. The current meeting minutes are where you document the corrections that your association made getting things right.

[Tim Wynn]

Can a member call in his vote d8636345753

There is no provision for this in our by-laws, nor is there any mention of proxy votes or mailed in ballots.

It's a fundamental principle of parliamentary law that the right to vote is limited to those members who are present in a meeting. For participation by telephone to be allowed, it must be authorized in the bylaws or higher governing documents.

[Rev Ed]

If telephone votes are not specifically allwoed then the vote should not have counted. However, once the vote has occurred, and assuming that the one vote would not have changed the outcome, there is nothing to change now. The result would still be the same. However, next time something like this occurs make a Point of Order right away to make sure the vote is not counted.

[Guest Tim]

The called in vote did effect the out come as the vote was a tie before counting the call in vote.

Also since one of the offices was for the president, can the president vote for himself during an election.

And how should this election be corrected?

[jstackpo]

Pres vote for himself? (Who else would he vote for?) Answer: Yes

How corrected?: Just do it again, next meeting. But no phone-in votes, please.