Guest Pam Braun Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:14 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:14 PM We are making CBL changes. Our CBL states we need a "2/3 affirmative vote of those returning valid ballots" We have 100 ballots returned. There are eleven changes to be voted on. Not all 100 voted for all eleven changes.Do we count the total number of votes cast for each question to compute 2/3 for that question, or use the total of 100 ballots returned to compute what is taken to pass? Wee have different opinions due to the wording of the CBL, referring to "ballots" rather than votes. Pam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:36 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:36 PM See FAQ #10 on proxies. If absentee voting is authorized in your bylaws, it will be up to your organization to determine the details on using such a method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:44 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:44 PM Who said anything about proxies. He said ballots. I would ague that any blank ballot is a blank vote, and thus does not count. But interpretation of your organization's Constitution is up to your organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:52 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 at 06:52 PM Perhaps FAQ #6 on abstentions may also be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted January 14, 2015 at 07:29 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 at 07:29 PM We are making CBL changes. Our CBL states we need a "2/3 affirmative vote of those returning valid ballots" We have 100 ballots returned. There are eleven changes to be voted on. Not all 100 voted for all eleven changes.Do we count the total number of votes cast for each question to compute 2/3 for that question, or use the total of 100 ballots returned to compute what is taken to pass? Wee have different opinions due to the wording of the CBL, referring to "ballots" rather than votes. Pam I'm sure you do have differing opinions; frankly, so do I. You are asking us for an opinion as to the meaning and proper application of your bylaws, and not for an explanation of any rule or rules in RONR. As a consequence, I'm not sure we can be of much help. PS - I would count the total number of votes cast for each question to compute 2/3 for that question if I were you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 15, 2015 at 05:37 PM Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 at 05:37 PM I'm sure D.H. has it right. For each of the eleven questions, count the Yes and No votes, ignoring anyone who didn't vote (abstained) on that question. If, for any question, there were twice as many (or more) Yes votes than No votes, the 2/3 threshold has been achieved, and that amendment is adopted. Now, I could conceive of someone arguing that the number of overall ballots (100) should be used. If I were a member (which I'm not) I would probably argue that the right method is to follow, by analogy, RONR's recommendation when an election for several offices is done on one combined ballot. In that case the Yes/No votes are counted for each office separately, as if they were on separate pieces of paper. So it would be possible to have a different number of "ballots" returned for each question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted January 15, 2015 at 05:52 PM Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 at 05:52 PM There are eleven changes to be voted on. Let's hope adopting, or rejecting, one doesn't make adopting, or rejecting, another one moot. Or worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Ed Posted January 16, 2015 at 04:18 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 04:18 AM Now, I could conceive of someone arguing that the number of overall ballots (100) should be used. If I were a member (which I'm not) I would probably argue that the right method is to follow, by analogy, RONR's recommendation when an election for several offices is done on one combined ballot. In that case the Yes/No votes are counted for each office separately, as if they were on separate pieces of paper. So it would be possible to have a different number of "ballots" returned for each question. So, you mean I basically got something right for once? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmuel Gerber Posted January 16, 2015 at 05:57 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 05:57 AM So, you mean I basically got something right for once?You've basically gotten things right a lot of times, but other than your correct distinction between proxies and mail ballots, I wouldn't especially say that this was one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:32 PM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:32 PM So, you mean I basically got something right for once? Thanks for pointing out that proxies may not be involved in this situation. Also by reading through other threads, I agree that many of your responses have been helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:39 PM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:39 PM Now, I could conceive of someone arguing that the number of overall ballots (100) should be used. If I were a member (which I'm not) I would probably argue that the right method is to follow, by analogy, RONR's recommendation when an election for several offices is done on one combined ballot. So, you mean I basically got something right for once? Well, I guess it would depend on which side of that argument you were on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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