Guest John Posted December 11, 2013 at 12:17 AM Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 at 12:17 AM If a person runs for office un-opposed, does a nomination automatically make him a winner, or does his name still have to go on the ballot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted December 11, 2013 at 12:41 AM Report Share Posted December 11, 2013 at 12:41 AM If the bylaws require a ballot vote then a ballot vote must be held. Otherwise the Chair should declare the sole nominee elected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Question Help Posted December 13, 2013 at 01:51 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 01:51 PM In this scenario, how would the ballot be written? Their name and a yes/no option or a blank piece of paper given to all for them to write in the name or turn ballot in blank? How would the votes be counted in this scenario? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted December 13, 2013 at 02:06 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 02:06 PM Well, a ballot can be as simple as a blank piece of paper on which the voters write the name of the person they're voting for. But if your organization typically pre-prints ballots then print the name of the nominee but be sure to leave space for a "write-in" vote. A "yes/no" option is not appropriate. If you don't want the sole nominee to get elected you'll have to vote for someone else. Blank ballots are considered to be abstentions (i.e. not counted). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Question Help Posted December 13, 2013 at 02:58 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 02:58 PM Our bylaws/policies do not speak about how to handle write-in because to be eligible for election, the candidate has to turn an application and notify us of their intent to run 30 days before elections so at elections, we don't allow for additional candidates so a write-in in our situation would be an illegible vote, correct? If one person is running unopposed, and we don't allow for write-in, is there a way that the person running unopposed will NOT get elected? Well, a ballot can be as simple as a blank piece of paper on which the voters write the name of the person they're voting for. But if your organization typically pre-prints ballots then print the name of the nominee but be sure to leave space for a "write-in" vote. A "yes/no" option is not appropriate. If you don't want the sole nominee to get elected you'll have to vote for someone else. Blank ballots are considered to be abstentions (i.e. not counted). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bozo Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:03 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:03 PM ... If one person is running unopposed, and we don't allow for write-in, is there a way that the person running unopposed will NOT get elected? Someone might arrange an 'accident'.... (that's a joke) Only if absolutely no one at all votes for him. Make sure there's a box to X or tick next to the name. No mark, no vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecugss Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:07 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:07 PM Bozo, where is that referenced in Robert's (not the accident part lol)? If we give them blank ballots for someone running unopposed, if they dont turn in the ballots or they dont write the name of the person, it doesn't count right? Someone might arrange an 'accident'.... (that's a joke) Only if absolutely no one at all votes for him. Make sure there's a box to X or tick next to the name. No mark, no vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bozo Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:18 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:18 PM Bozo, where is that referenced in Robert's (not the accident part lol)? If we give them blank ballots for someone running unopposed, if they dont turn in the ballots or they dont write the name of the person, it doesn't count right? Correct, blank ballots are ignored--set aside--they don't affect the outcome. A ballot not even returned, likewise can have no effect. The procedure for counting ballots is found on p 415. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:24 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 03:24 PM Our bylaws/policies do not speak about how to handle write-in because to be eligible for election, the candidate has to turn an application and notify us of their intent to run 30 days before elections so at elections, we don't allow for additional candidates so a write-in in our situation would be an illegible vote, correct? If one person is running unopposed, and we don't allow for write-in, is there a way that the person running unopposed will NOT get elected? If it is indeed correct that your bylaws provide that "to be eligible for election, the candidate has to turn an application and notify us of their intent to run 30 days before elections," then no, I don't see how it would be possible for a person running unopposed not to be elected (short of that candidate withdrawing or, as noted, having an unfortunate accident). Since your bylaws apparently rule out the possibility of write-in votes, it would probably be wise to amend the bylaws to provide that if there is only one candidate for office, the chair may declare the candidate elected by acclamation, since it's a bit silly to hold a ballot vote under such circumstances. It may also be wise to provide for a mechanism to suspend that rule, since you may run into a situation where you have no candidates who declared by the deadline, or a situation where the assembly doesn't care for the candidates who have declared. If we give them blank ballots for someone running unopposed, if they dont turn in the ballots or they dont write the name of the person, it doesn't count right? Right. Since it is not possible to simply vote "No," and it is apparently not possible under your bylaws to vote for anyone else, it would seem that a single vote for the candidate would be sufficient for election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecugss Posted December 13, 2013 at 04:37 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 04:37 PM Where in Roberts can I find information about a single vote being enough for an election? If it is indeed correct that your bylaws provide that "to be eligible for election, the candidate has to turn an application and notify us of their intent to run 30 days before elections," then no, I don't see how it would be possible for a person running unopposed not to be elected (short of that candidate withdrawing or, as noted, having an unfortunate accident). Since your bylaws apparently rule out the possibility of write-in votes, it would probably be wise to amend the bylaws to provide that if there is only one candidate for office, the chair may declare the candidate elected by acclamation, since it's a bit silly to hold a ballot vote under such circumstances. It may also be wise to provide for a mechanism to suspend that rule, since you may run into a situation where you have no candidates who declared by the deadline, or a situation where the assembly doesn't care for the candidates who have declared. Right. Since it is not possible to simply vote "No," and it is apparently not possible under your bylaws to vote for anyone else, it would seem that a single vote for the candidate would be sufficient for election. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edgar Posted December 13, 2013 at 04:43 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 04:43 PM Where in Roberts can I find information about a single vote being enough for an election? Well, all he'll need is a majority (more than half) of the votes cast. One is more than half of one. in fact, the vote will have been unanimous (though it's best to avoid that term). (The citation should be somewhere in the section on elections but stayed tuned.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bozo Posted December 13, 2013 at 05:30 PM Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 at 05:30 PM Where in Roberts can I find information about a single vote being enough for an election?It doesn't show up in those exact, or approximate, words, it's a you-connect-the-dots thing: From page 400, "... The basic requirement for approval of an action or choice ... except where a rule provides otherwise, is a majority vote. ... Majority vote ... means more than half of the votes cast by persons entitled to vote, excluding blanks or abstentions ..." So, one vote, cast by a properly entitled voter, if it's the only vote--well, it's like Edgar said, 1 vote is greater than 1/2 of the total (1) votes cast, 1 > 1/2 * 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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