Absentee Voting

[Guest Ken]

We have an upcoming election and we have absentee voting in our bylaws. Our bylaws do not cover something that has come up. One of our members would like to have their absentee ballot back. They may change their mind. Can that be done? What is the ruling on absentee ballots?

[Chris Harrison]

Unless the ballots are not to be secret (the ballot is signed) or you all use the double envelope method as discussed on RONR pp. 424-425 (and the signed envelope hasn't been opened yet) I don't think there is any reliable way to know which of the ballots is that particular member's and you all shouldn't just take his or her word on how he or she voted.

[jstackpo]

Ruling? There is none, in RONR, that is. RONR is adverse to absentee voting and leaves all details up to the association, most of which, including authorization to do absentee voting in the first place, must be in the bylaws.

As a concession to common practice, the book does describe a (good) mail voting system, as CH noted, for those organizations who HAVE authorized such in their bylaws.

[Josh Martin]

Can that be done? What is the ruling on absentee ballots?

In principle, a member is free to change his vote, but whether this is possible in your particular case depends on the procedure you use for absentee voting. So long as the member's vote may be changed while complying with the assembly's rules and without compromising the security of the election or the secrecy of the ballots, it should be permitted.