Guest Pam Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:31 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:31 AM We have a board of 9 members. Our policy manual does not specify the procedure for a tied vote; however, it does state that we are to use Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised Edition. We recently attempted to elect a president. We had 3 nominations from the floor. One person nominated herself and the other two were nominated by fellow board members. The vote was taken and the result was 4, 4, 1. The vote was taken twice more but remained the same. Where can we find guidance on this issue? Is it stated anywhere in RONR that a person cannot nominate themselves? After three rounds of voting, can the third nomination be removed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:32 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:32 AM Is it stated anywhere in RONR that a person cannot nominate themselves? After three rounds of voting, can the third nomination be removed? 1. No. 2. No. Keep voting until someone is elected. It might not be one of the three "original" nominees (though, with a pool of only nine possible candidates, the choices are obviously limited). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:38 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 01:38 AM Thank You Edgar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted January 16, 2015 at 05:13 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 05:13 AM After three rounds of voting, can the third nomination be removed?Well, it's contrary to the rule in RONR, but it's possible. The assembly can adopt a motion or special rule that the person with the lowest vote count can be dropped from the next ballot or that there shall be a runoff between the top two candidates. The assembly can also vote to suspend the rules in RONR to allow dropping a candidate. Without adopting such a motion or suspending the rules, or without such a rule in your bylaws or special rules of order, RONR specifies that you do not drop any candidates but simply continue voting with all of the original candidates still on the ballot until someone wins. In addition, the candidate with the lowest number of votes can voluntarily withdraw. There is nothing wrong with asking. The three candidates can also agree among themselves that the one with the smallest number of votes will withdraw. Ties are sometimes broken by a coin toss. You can have a rule that provides for that or the candidates can agree among themselves that the one who loses the coin toss will withdraw. Edited to add: See the footnote on page 441 of RONR re suspending the rules to permit dropping candidates from follow up ballots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 16, 2015 at 02:30 PM Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 at 02:30 PM The assembly can suspend the rules and drop the lowest candidate from the ballot, but I don't agree that they can "have a run-off". In other words, even though the candidate has been removed from the ballot, anyone can vote for them anyway, and those votes must still be counted. Unless the bylaws provide for "run-off" elections, RONR prohibits the practice of declaring someone ineligible based on losing one round of balloting. So that doesn't really solve your problem, unless people are ignorant of the rule that write-ins are always permitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transpower Posted January 18, 2015 at 11:24 PM Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 at 11:24 PM Keep in mind that a "dark horse" candidate may emerge after multiple balloting--RONR (11th ed.), p. 441, ll. 8-10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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