Ballot recount after motion to destroy

[ellen smith]

At our recent AGM, an election of directors was held.  The ballots were counted and 5 candidates declared as winners. No tally sheet results were announced. A motion to destroy the ballots was made and the meeting was then adjourned.  The secretary looked at the tally sheet and realized a major error had been made and she then recounted the ballots on her own.  Can we rescind this vote and hold a new election or does the vote stand?

[Edgar Guest]

If the ballots were secured (i.e. if the assembly believes that the secretary didn't tamper with them), a re-count could be ordered. The fact that the ballots were ordered to be destroyed is not relevant. Unless, of course, they were destroyed.

 

Needless to say, this is a good example of why the complete tellers report (i.e. all the numbers) should be read aloud and entered into the minutes.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

At our recent AGM, an election of directors was held.  The ballots were counted and 5 candidates declared as winners. No tally sheet results were announced. A motion to destroy the ballots was made and the meeting was then adjourned.  The secretary looked at the tally sheet and realized a major error had been made and she then recounted the ballots on her own.  Can we rescind this vote and hold a new election or does the vote stand?

 

No, an election cannot be rescinded (see RONR 11th ed., p. 308, ll. 24-27). The voting body may order a recount at the next session if it is within a quarterly time interval (see p. 419, ll. 1-9).

[Gary Novosielski]

...but since you can't recount things (like ballots) after they have been destroyed, that might be problematic months from now.

[Edgar Guest]

...but since you can't recount things (like ballots) after they have been destroyed, that might be problematic months from now.

 

Although we don't know that the ballots have been destroyed. Only that a motion was made (and, presumably, adopted) to destroy them.