Guest willarmd2 Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:46 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:46 PM I am the secretary for my county's Republican party, and I have a question about how to record a vote in the minutes. Generally, our chairman will ask for a voice vote on all motions - first the positive, then the negative. Usually, there are not objects, and I will record something like "the vote passed unanimously" in the minutes. Last night, we voted on a motion, and there was one negative vote. I recorded this simply as "the motion carried." However, several similar voice votes followed where the member who had cast the negative vote before simply did not give a positive or negative vote. Is it accurate for me to record this as a unanimous vote (no negative vote was cast), or does every member present have to vote in the positive for it to be considered unanimous?I have looked through my copy of RONR and done some searching on the internet, but I couldn't find anything that addressed this. Any insight or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnR Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:54 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:54 PM If there are no "noes," then the vote is unanimous. A unanimous vote or consent doesn't mean that every member is in agreement, only that there are no objections voiced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:55 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 07:55 PM Is it accurate for me to record this as a unanimous vote (no negative vote was cast), or does every member present have to vote in the positive for it to be considered unanimous?Accurate? Yes.But that confusion is the very reason the word "unanimous" should be avoided. If not a "counted vote" simply record whether the motion was adopted or lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted October 19, 2012 at 08:06 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 08:06 PM I am the secretary for my county's Republican party, and I have a question about how to record a vote in the minutes. Generally, our chairman will ask for a voice vote on all motions - first the positive, then the negative. Usually, there are not objects, and I will record something like "the vote passed unanimously" in the minutes.Last night, we voted on a motion, and there was one negative vote. I recorded this simply as "the motion carried." However, several similar voice votes followed where the member who had cast the negative vote before simply did not give a positive or negative vote. Is it accurate for me to record this as a unanimous vote (no negative vote was cast), or does every member present have to vote in the positive for it to be considered unanimous?I have looked through my copy of RONR and done some searching on the internet, but I couldn't find anything that addressed this. Any insight or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!Stop making this mistake and your job will be much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Foulkes Posted October 19, 2012 at 08:06 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 08:06 PM From a parliamentary standpoint, there's no significance of a vote being unanimous. A vote of 99-0 or 50-49 adopts equally well (assuming a majority vote required, of course). Just note that the motion carried and move along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest willarmd2 Posted October 19, 2012 at 10:00 PM Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 at 10:00 PM Thanks for the help. I appreciate the clarification and the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nancy N. Posted October 20, 2012 at 12:12 AM Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 at 12:12 AM When I was beginning to ask about parliamentary procedure, someone named Voldemort told me that when a vote was unanimous, the number of members present must be recorded, because to rescind the motion that the vote was on would take 2/3 more votes. But you know what? He deliberately misinformed me so that I would be distracted while he tried to take over the world. But you know what? The same as with the keys to my silver Porsche!2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted October 20, 2012 at 03:28 AM Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 at 03:28 AM Last night, we voted on a motion, and there was one negative vote. I recorded this simply as "the motion carried." However, several similar voice votes followed where the member who had cast the negative vote before simply did not give a positive or negative vote. Is it accurate for me to record this as a unanimous vote (no negative vote was cast), or does every member present have to vote in the positive for it to be considered unanimous?You stated it correctly by stating "The motion carried" in the Minutes. However, when the member did not vote, he/she was abstaining - thus it would not count in the vote. So, the motion passed unanimously. However, it is as easy to simply state "The motion was carried" all the time to avoid confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted October 20, 2012 at 02:08 PM Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 at 02:08 PM Since there is no parliamentary significance to a vote's being unanimous, you would be correct to note that the motion "carried" or "was adopted" in all cases.Well, except in those cases where it wasn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted October 20, 2012 at 02:50 PM Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 at 02:50 PM So, the motion passed unanimously.Well, the vote was unanimous. But the passage? Maybe not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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