election observers

[Guest linda]

During a balloted election, is it possible for any club member to be present during the counting of the ballots by the tellers - as an observer?

[Edgar Guest]

It's possible if the assembly (the members present) permit it (or don't prohibit it). Often the tellers will retire to a quiet room to count the votes. Nothing in RONR give an individual member the right to observe the tellers at work.

[George Mervosh]

Agreeing with my good friend from Ulster County, NY, when the tellers are selected as suggested by RONR the need for observers (presumably to protect one candidate's interest) becomes a moot point:

 

"The tellers should be chosen for accuracy and dependability, should have the confidence of the membership, and should not have a direct personal involvement in the question or in the result of the vote to an extent that they should refrain from voting under the principle stated on page 407. Often their position with regard to the issue involved is well known, however, and they are frequently chosen to protect the interests of each opposing side. They normally vote themselves."  RONR (11th ed), p. 414

 

(In one fraternal group I belonged to I'd always choose relatives of each major office candidate for to serve on the tellers committee, if possible.  If Joe's relative agreed with the other tellers that John won, even in a close count, Joe knows someone was there protecting his interest and the results were never contested.)

[Hieu H. Huynh]

In addition, "Some small organizations have a custom that ballots are counted in full presence of the meeting." (p. 415, ll. 22-23)