Status of an agenda item after a tie vote

[Guest Mari Stone]

Our five member board held a meeting with one absent.  A motion was made and the result was a tie, so it failed.  An amended motion was then made, and it also failed in a tie.  What is the status of the agenda item?  Is it still open?  Is it still on the table for the next meeting?

[Dan Honemann]

Our five member board held a meeting with one absent.  A motion was made and the result was a tie, so it failed.  An amended motion was then made, and it also failed in a tie.  What is the status of the agenda item?  Is it still open?  Is it still on the table for the next meeting?

 

A motion that fails by a vote of 2 in favor and 2 opposed has been defeated just as much as if the vote had been 0 in favor and 4 opposed.

[Josh Martin]

Our five member board held a meeting with one absent.  A motion was made and the result was a tie, so it failed.  An amended motion was then made, and it also failed in a tie.  What is the status of the agenda item?  Is it still open?  Is it still on the table for the next meeting?

 

The motion is defeated. It is not pending nor is it an order of the day for the next meeting, although a member can make a motion on this subject (including one of the previously defeated motions) at the next meeting if he wishes. There is no difference between a motion which is defeated due to a tie vote and any other defeated motion.

[Guest Edgar]

A motion was made and the result was a tie, so it failed.  An amended motion was then made, and it also failed in a tie.

 

The time to amend a pending motion is before the vote (assuming these two motions are related). It sounds like the second motion was, in effect, an improperly executed motion to Reconsider the first motion (albeit in altered form). If so, it could only have been made by a member who voted on the prevailing side (i.e. who voted against the first motion).

 

Again, I'm assuming the two motions addressed the same question. If this is not the case, disregard this reply.

[Guest Guest]

Thank you all.  Yes, Edgar, a no voter made the second motion, which was substantially amended.  This forum was very helpful!

[Josh Martin]

Thank you all.  Yes, Edgar, a no voter made the second motion, which was substantially amended.  This forum was very helpful!

 

Well, Edgar's point is that such a member would have made a motion to Reconsider, which (if adopted) would have brought the defeated motion back before the assembly, and the motion could then be amended. Since you say the motion was "substantially amended," however, it's possible that it was essentially a new question, in which case it was proper for any member to make that motion.

[Guest Edgar]

 . . .  it's possible that it was essentially a new question, in which case it was proper for any member to make that motion.

 

It seems to me that both motions addressed the same "agenda item" (i.e. the same question, albeit with a "substantially" different answer). Which is why, when both motions failed, some thought (erroneously) that the agenda item was/is still "open".

[Gary Novosielski]

Thank you all.  Yes, Edgar, a no voter made the second motion, which was substantially amended.  This forum was very helpful!

No, it wasn't amended.  The first motion could have been properly amended while it was being considered, but apparently it wasn't.  Once the vote took place, and the motion was defeated, another motion on essentially the same question would not be in order, and it would be too late to amend the first motion unless a motion to Reconsider was adopted.  That has to be moved by someone on the prevailing side (a No voter, in this case).

 

But, as is usually the case, what's done is done.  And since the second motion was also defeated, the status is that nothing passed.  Anyone is free to make the same motion or a very different motion at the next meeting.