Chairman Changing Vote without other committee members

[Guest Garden Club Member]

    How can a vote that was taken in a committee (listed in policy and procedures of a club) be overturned or changed?  Does the chairman of the committee have the power to change the vote  and if so does the chairman need to advise the other members of the committee that the chairman has changed the vote.

[Richard Brown]

No, the chairman does not have the authority to change a motion adopted by the committee unless the bylaws or some special rule give him that authority.

[Edgar Guest]

No, the chairman does not have the authority to change a motion adopted by the committee unless the bylaws or some special rule give him that authority.

 

The motion was adopted?

[Guest Guest]

No, the chairman does not have the authority to change a motion adopted by the committee unless the bylaws or some special rule give him that authority.

Could you point me to the wording in Robert's Rules. Thank you for your comment

[Richard Brown]

The motion was adopted?

Good point.  The original poster didn't say.    It could also have been defeated.  And the chairman couldn't change the outcome of that vote, either.  :-)

[Guest Guest]

Good point.  The original poster didn't say.    It could also have been defeated.  And the chairman couldn't change the outcome of that vote, either.  :-)

The vote was 3 to 1 in favor to select a winner. After the meeting and without the knowledge of the 3 members that voted "for", the chairman changed winner. 

[Richard Brown]

The vote was 3 to 1 in favor to select a winner. After the meeting and without the knowledge of the 3 members that voted "for", the chairman changed winner. 

 

Perhaps the chairman should be removed as chairman or even removed from the committee.  In addition, you might get a copy of RONR 11th edition and study Chapter XX: the chapter on discipline.  It's 26 pages of detailed procedures.  Possible "punishments" range from censure to expulsion.  A good "talking to" by the president or by the other members of the committee might be all that is necessary.

 

Did the chairman give a reason or justification for changing the winner?   Even if he (or she) made a mistake in announcing the winner at the meeting, the chair's announcement usually stands unless challenged by a point of order.

[Guest Guest]

Perhaps the chairman should be removed as chairman or even removed from the committee.  In addition, you might get a copy of RONR 11th edition and study Chapter XX: the chapter on discipline.  It's 26 pages of detailed procedures.  Possible "punishments" range from censure to expulsion.  A good "talking to" by the president or by the other members of the committee might be all that is necessary.

 

Did the chairman give a reason or justification for changing the winner?   Even if he (or she) made a mistake in announcing the winner at the meeting, the chair's announcement usually stands unless challenged by a point of order.

The person voted as the winner was told by the chairman that she was disqualified. The reason given is not valid actually unlawful in non-profits.  Had the 3 other members of the committee had knowledge that the vote was being change we would have objected.

[Richard Brown]

The person voted as the winner was told by the chairman that she was disqualified. The reason given is not valid actually unlawful in non-profits.  Had the 3 other members of the committee had knowledge that the vote was being change we would have objected.

The chairman does not have the power, acting unilaterally and outside of a meeting, to take such action.  At the next meeting the chairman can raise a point of order on his own that the winner does not meet the qualifications and is therefore disqualified.  His ruling can be appealed to the rest of the committee.  It takes a majority vote to overrule the chair. 

 

If the chair's ruling is upheld, it is then up to the committee, not the chairman, to select a new winner.  The person who originally came in second is NOT automatically the winner.  You vote again.

[Gary Novosielski]

The motion was adopted?

 

Well, if the chair had the power to "change the vote" there would be no way to tell for sure.

 

Fortunately, he doesn't.