Break tie after adjournment

[Guest gmk]

At a recent meeting, the vote to purchase an additional property resulted in a tie vote. The president had not voted, but did not want to break the tie that evening, but wanted to wait 24 hours before deciding. Can a vote be exercised after the meeting adjourned? Is it okay because she indicated she wanted to think about it for 24 hours?

[Chris Harrison]

No because that would be absentee voting (RONR pp. 423-424) and she cannot add her vote (even with unanimous consent) after the next item of business is introduced which Adjourning would be (RONR pp. 408-409). If she wanted her vote to count she should have voted when it was proper to do so but since she decided not to she has missed the boat.

[jstackpo]

And, since Chris didn't mention it, the motion to purchase the property was defeated.

It can be offered again next meeting which will give the president, if there is a tie, another chance.

[Gary Novosielski]

At a recent meeting, the vote to purchase an additional property resulted in a tie vote. The president had not voted, but did not want to break the tie that evening, but wanted to wait 24 hours before deciding. Can a vote be exercised after the meeting adjourned? Is it okay because she indicated she wanted to think about it for 24 hours?

No. She doesn't get more time than anyone else to decide, and votes must be taken at meetings.

By abstaining (which is what she did) she effectively decided that the motion should be (and was) defeated.