Guest Norene Goard Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:28 PM Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:28 PM I'm dealing with a board that has many new members who have no history regarding a contentious issue. If a ballot vote is held, is it appropriate to have it contain boxes for, against, and abstain as I anticipate many abstentions or should it just contain for and against. I am a new Chair and want to remain impartial.Also, will the vote be valid if half the members abstain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Brown Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:32 PM Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:32 PM There is no need to have a box on the ballot for "abstain". Some on here will probably say it's actually improper, since in a voice vote the chair never calls for abstentions. It certainly isn't necessary. People abstain by either not voting (not turning in a ballot) or by turning in a blank ballot. Unless you have a different bylaw requirement or special rule, most motions are carried by "a majority vote", which means a majority of the votes cast by members present and voting, ignoring abstentions, etc. If you have 100 members present, and 99 abstain and only one member votes yes, the measure passes by a 1 - 0 vote, clearly a majority of the votes cast. See pages 400-406 of RONR for more on calculating and counting votes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:47 PM Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 at 03:47 PM No, you do not put an "abstain" box. People who do not turn in a ballot, or who turn in a blank ballot have abstained just as surely as those who might check the box, so it serves no purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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