motion read and voted on differs from motion made

[Guest Ted]

What is the effect of the chair or clerk misreading the question/motion for the vote, such that it differs from the motion made and seconded?

[Chris Harrison]

Whatever language the assembly adopts is the official language that would go into the minutes. If the Chair tries to put the question with language that the assembly hadn't agreed to then someone needs to raise a Point of Order immediately.

[Guest Ted]

Thanks, but no one raised a point of order. The motion differed from the one voted on, and that is how it appears in the minutes. So, which controls, the motion made, or the one read just before the vote?

[Chris Harrison]

Thanks, but no one raised a point of order. The motion differed from the one voted on, and that is how it appears in the minutes. So, which controls, the motion made, or the one read just before the vote?

Whatever language the assembly adopts is the official language that would go into the minutes.

[David A Foulkes]

Thanks, but no one raised a point of order. The motion differed from the one voted on, and that is how it appears in the minutes. So, which controls, the motion made, or the one read just before the vote?

The one read just before the vote. That was the motion that the chair put to the vote. If the original motion was "to paint the clubhouse red", but the chair said "to paint the clubhouse blue" and that's what was voted on, then you should plan to go out and get some blue paint. Now, if the chair in fact put the correct motion (using "red"), but the minutes reflect something different ("blue"), they can be changed at the time they are read for adoption by offering a correction at that time. Corrections are usually handled by unanimous consent, although a majority vote will adopt the correction if there is any dispute.

At the next meeting, if the clubhouse hasn't been painted yet, you could move to Rescind the motion which would annul the decision made previously. Or, you could move to Amend the motion (using Rescind's "sister" motion to Amend Something Previously Adopted) and strike "blue" and insert "red", and get things back on the proper track. (See Section 35, RONR 11th Ed.)