Can the chair designate that voting will be done by ballot?

[Guest Joyce]

Our by-laws dont state the method of voting. We usually use voice or sometimes raising hands. We will be voting on a sensitive issue and one member said they were going to abstain because of a desire to be anonymous. Can the chair state that the vote will be done by ballot?

[J. J.]

Not on his own. The majority may order it or the chair could ask for unanimous consent to use a ballot.

In some discipliary situations, RONR requires a ballot, on the demand of a single member.

[Rev Ed]

If no one raised a Point of Order then yes. Of course, strictly speaking the Chairman should state "If no one objects, this motion will be voted on by ballot." If no one objects then it is okay.

[Shmuel Gerber]

Our by-laws dont state the method of voting. We usually use voice or sometimes raising hands. We will be voting on a sensitive issue and one member said they were going to abstain because of a desire to be anonymous. Can the chair state that the vote will be done by ballot?

When voting is done by voice or a show of hands, there is no way to abstain anonymously, either.

So, "In cases in which there is no requirement that a vote be by ballot, a ballot vote can be ordered by a majority vote—which may be desirable whenever it is believed that members may thereby be more likely to vote their true sentiments."

(RONR, 11th ed., p. 412, lines 20-23.)