unanimous vote

[Guest Linda J]

Is a vote reported as unanimous at a board meeting if everyone present votes in the affirmative even if two members are absent?

[Bruce Lages]

RONR conveys no special status to a unanimous vote, so unless your rules provide otherwise, the result of a voice vote is recorded as the motion being adopted or defeated. For a counted vote the actual count of ayes and nays is recorded, and for a roll call vote the response of each member is recorded together with the result of the vote (adoption or rejection).

[Guest linda J]

Do you record those who are absent as abstentions?

[jstackpo]

No.  There is no RONR rule requiring reporting of who did not vote at all  (i.e.,abstained, if referring to the folks at the meeting) , whether he was at the meeting or not.

[Richard Brown]

No.  There is no RONR rule requiring reporting of who did not vote at all  (i.e.,abstained, if referring to the folks at the meeting) , whether he was at the meeting or not.

Well, I agree that you do not record the names of those who are absent unless the society has a rule or custom requiring it.  But, for a roll call vote, the secretary should record how each member voted, whether he voted yes, no, present or abstained.  (Voting "present" is treated as an abstention, not that it really makes any difference).  But for normal normal  voting by show of hands, standing, or yeas and nays no record of abstentions is made.  RONR page 421.    But, you never record an absence as an abstention.  If you list absences, list it as such.