How to have a motion divided into multiple parts?

[techshark]

Our association votes as one motion its slate of officers and the board of director positions for those officers. We would like to divide this into voting for the officers separately so that we can vote against the person running for president. How would we handle this if the slate is in one motion? Can we ask to divide the motion or do we vote the first motion down then change the motion? Would you please provide citations if convenient so we can use them at the meeting. Thanks!

[Trina]

A motion for division of a question must be seconded, is not debatable, is amendable, and requires majority vote to adopt. A motion to vote "as one motion its slate of officers and the board of director positions for those officers" is not the right way to conduct an election in the first place according to RONR -- people are elected individually; not massed together as a 'slate.' Some motions are not readily divisible; but this one clearly is divisible, by its nature.

Information on the motion for Division of a Question can be found on pp. 271-276 (RONR 11th ed.).

One might argue that the motion you're describing actually falls into the category of MOTIONS THAT MUST BE DIVIDED ON DEMAND (pp. 274-275):

'Sometimes a series of independent resolutions or main motions dealing with different subjects is offered in one motion. In such a case, one or more of the several resolutions must receive separate consideration and vote at the request of a single member, and the motion for Division of a Question is not used... This demand must be asserted before the question on adopting the series has actually been put to vote.'

If your association is in the habit of doing the (inappropriate) one-shot vote on the whole shebang, it might be hard to convince some members that the individual elections are, in fact, independent. That may mean you need to do some educating (perhaps even prior to the meeting).

[Guest Edgar]

Our association votes as one motion its slate of officers and the board of director positions for those officers.

Why?

Members have the right to vote for some or all or none of the candidates on your so-called "slate" and they have the right to vote for candidates who are not on the "slate".

As Trina suggests, perhaps it's time to start conducting elections the right way.