A proposal to change voting procedures at an annual business meeting

[Guest Nelson]

Is it legal to have a proposal submitted that must be voted on by the full membership of an organization to change voting procedures from hand voting to electronic voting starting with that meeting? If so, if that particular proposal is in any position other then the first ballot question, could that change in voting procedure void earlier votes in the meeting and require an electronic revote on all previously voted upon proposals?

[jstackpo]

Clearly folks have been hesitant to take this one up -- the question seems to have a lot of interlocking parts and a few unfounded assumptions about procedure -- lets see if it can be partly unpacked. BTW, we don't do "legal" here, only "proper".

RONR has no requirement for a "full membership vote" to change voting procedures - a majority of those voting will be sufficient. So move that electronic voting gadgets be used. If it is adopted, use them. If not, send them back (and swallow the fees you incurred to rent the gadgets in the first place).

A vote to use electronics "henceforth" would in no way invalidate previous hand-votes. They are over and done with. (They could be reconsidered at the same meeting, but that is another story -- read it for yourself, p. 315 ff.)

There now, that wasn't so bad. ('Course I may have misunderstood the whole thing!)

[Tim Wynn]

Is it legal to have a proposal submitted that must be voted on by the full membership of an organization to change voting procedures from hand voting to electronic voting starting with that meeting? If so, if that particular proposal is in any position other then the first ballot question, could that change in voting procedure void earlier votes in the meeting and require an electronic revote on all previously voted upon proposals?

To adopt such a special rule of order relating to the method of voting requires either (a) previous notice and a two-thirds vote, or (b.) a vote of a majority of the entire membership. Perhaps this is what you mean by "must be voted on by the full membership."

The rule would have no effect on votes taken prior to its adoption.