Motion to amend motion

[Guest Virginia Langley]

We have a properly executed motion that is currently being voted on (online board room with 5 day voting window).

 

A board member doesn't like the wording of the motion and has made a motion to amend the wording of the motion that is being voted on.

 

Does the motion to amend need to be considered (if seconded) before the original motion can be closed?

 

Many Thanks!

 

Virginia

[Gary Novosielski]

Once voting has begun, amendments (or anything else) cannot interrupt it. 

[Guest Virginia Langley]

That is what I was thinking - is there a section that I can reference to back this up?

 

[jstackpo]

Although with on-line (or e-mail, or electronic) voting the rules might be different.

 

But they would be V. Langley's association's rules, not RONR's.

[Guest Virginia Langley]

Our bylaws defer to RONR when not specified and this situation is not specified.

[George Mervosh]

Once voting has begun, amendments (or anything else) cannot interrupt it. 

 

 

That is what I was thinking - is there a section that I can reference to back this up?

 

Assuming it applies  "Interruptions during the taking of a vote are permitted only before any member has actually voted, unless, as sometimes occurs in ballot voting, other business is being transacted during voting or tabulating."  RONR (11th ed.), p. 408

[Chris Harrison]

Electronic voting isn't allowed unless your bylaws specifically authorizes it (RONR p. 423).  If your bylaws do authorize it then it is up to you all to work out the details.  See this article which may be of some help. 

 

Emeetings.pdf

[jstackpo]

RONR has no e-meeting rules other than noting that additional special rules (and a few bylaw amendments) will be necessary.

 

Click on    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/88311344/E-Meetings%202012.docx

 

and

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/88311344/E-Meetings%20in%20Real%20World%202012.docx

 

and you can download some (that, I contend, comport well with RONR).

[Guest Virginia Langley]

Just to clarify our structure some, we operate in an online discussion forum - not through the use of email for discussion or voting.

[Edgar Guest]

Just to clarify our structure some, we operate in an online discussion forum . . . 

 

We do too.

[jstackpo]

Just to clarify our structure some, we operate in an online discussion forum - not through the use of email for discussion or voting.

 

Now I am a bit puzzled:  in the original posting you said you were voting via that "online board room".

 

Free form on-line discussions are of no concern to RONR, but as soon as you start making formal decisions, by vote, on-line, you have to be a bit more careful as you discovered when the unhappy voter wished to amend what he was being asked to vote on.

[Guest Virginia Langley]

I will not argue that the online discussion room / online board room format for conducting business for our organization isn't problematic, but it is the best viable option for a board that is spread across the country that we've found.

 

I also understand that RONR is not intended for use in this environment.  Despite this fact, our bylaws defer to RONR when the bylaws do not specify.  In this situation, they do not, so we are looking to RONR for some guidance.

 

In a normal / real world environment, IF a motion was made and seconded and the voting process had begun, under RONR, that vote would need to be completed before a motion to amend the original motion could be made / seconded / voted upon - correct?

 

Thanks again,

 

Virginia

 

 

[Dan Honemann]

In a normal / real world environment, IF a motion was made and seconded and the voting process had begun, under RONR, that vote would need to be completed before a motion to amend the original motion could be made / seconded / voted upon - correct?

 

Thanks again,

 

Virginia

 

No. Motions to amend a main motion must be made and disposed of before the main motion is voted on.

[Edgar Guest]

No. Motions to amend a main motion must be made and disposed of before the main motion is voted on.

 

I thought Ms. Langley was referring to either making a motion to amend something previously adopted (if the original motion was adopted) or renewing the motion (if the original motion was lost). Or Reconsidering the original motion.

[Dan Honemann]

I thought Ms. Langley was referring to either making a motion to amend something previously adopted (if the original motion was adopted) or renewing the motion (if the original motion was lost). Or Reconsidering the original motion.

 

I didn't.

[Gary Novosielski]

I will not argue that the online discussion room / online board room format for conducting business for our organization isn't problematic, but it is the best viable option for a board that is spread across the country that we've found.

 

I also understand that RONR is not intended for use in this environment.  Despite this fact, our bylaws defer to RONR when the bylaws do not specify.  In this situation, they do not, so we are looking to RONR for some guidance.

 

In a normal / real world environment, IF a motion was made and seconded and the voting process had begun, under RONR, that vote would need to be completed before a motion to amend the original motion could be made / seconded / voted upon - correct?

 

Thanks again,

 

Virginia

It depends on the result of the vote, for one thing.  But you can't actually amend the original motion unless the motion has been Reconsidered, Renewed, or Amended as something previously adopted.  Which of these might apply, I can't guess based on the information provided.

 

In general, once the motion has either passed or failed, if you want to revisit the same question that was just decided, there are ways to do it.  But since your bylaws defer to RONR for rules about on-line meetings, and since RONR contains no such rules, this forum may not be able to get much more specific than that.