Secret ballot results for Board elections

[Peter Square]

I am the president of a cooperative building of 123 units. Our By-Laws state, "To the extent reasonably possible all votes, other than votes on approval of minutes, election of Election Judges and parliamentary procedure, shall be conducted by secret ballot". Another Section states, "The most recent revision of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all parlamentary procedure". 

Another Section -  "Policies and Procedures - The Board of Directors shall have the power to formulate such policies and procedures as, in its discretion, may be necessary or appropriate for the management of the Corporation, such policies and procedures to be not inconsistent herewith and to be published or promulgated in such a manner as the Board of Directors may deem advisable".

 

Question -- Do we publicly have to show votes received for each Board of Director's candidate? If yes what do we have to change to keep votes secretive?

 

The issue have significance because several candidates have said they would not run if the vote totals were public.

[Josh Martin]

Question -- Do we publicly have to show votes received for each Board of Director's candidate?

 

When a vote is taken by ballot, the results are read aloud at the meeting and are included in the minutes.

 

If yes what do we have to change to keep votes secretive?

 

If the assembly wishes to modify the rule stated above, this would require the adoption of a rule of order for the session if you want to do it for just this meeting (two-thirds vote) or a special rule of order for a permanent rule on the subject (two-thirds vote with previous notice or a vote of a majority of the entire membership). Such a rule would, in my opinion, be extremely ill-advised, but the assembly is nonetheless free to adopt such a rule if it wishes.

[Guest Edgar]

Do we publicly have to show votes received for each Board of Director's candidate? If yes what do we have to change to keep votes secretive?

The votes (i.e. how each member voted) are already secret. The vote totals are not. Why should only those counting the votes (the tellers) know what the totals are? And what if they made a mistake? For example, declaring a winner with only a plurality when he needed a majority.

 

The issue have significance because several candidates have said they would not run if the vote totals were public.

 

Then they don't have to run. Don't change a tried-and-true rule just to satisfy a few. Would you be satisfied if you were simply told, for example, that Obama won, but weren't told by how many, or how few, votes? What if one of you directors was elected by only one vote. Might that not encourage others to run for his seat next time?

[Gary Novosielski]

The issue have significance because several candidates have said they would not run if the vote totals were public.

 

I wouldn't vote for someone who said that.  But that's just me.