Timing of Motion to Adjourn

[Guest Peter]

Hello.  My question concerns the timing of a motion to adjourn a meeting.  In this case a motion was before the assembly, debate had been held and closed (by proper motion) and the Chair was proceeding with the vote.  Just as the vote was called a member raised a motion to adjourn.  The chair ruled this motion out of order since voting on the motion before the assembly had begun.  Correct action by the chair?  Thank you.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

Yes.

Robert's Rules is clear. -- Once the taking of a vote has begun, any motion not directly related to the vote is out of order.

***

I have heard countless times, a chair is about to conduct a vote, and member calls out, "What are we voting on?" -- The chair failed to clarify the wording of the immediately pending question.

That kind of interruption is a necessary interruption. You can't vote on something no one knows is pending.

[ps23435]

Thank you!  And in fact, the chair did have the Secretary read the exact wording of the motion so got that right anyway!

[Dan Honemann]

10 hours ago, Guest Peter said:

Hello.  My question concerns the timing of a motion to adjourn a meeting.  In this case a motion was before the assembly, debate had been held and closed (by proper motion) and the Chair was proceeding with the vote.  Just as the vote was called a member raised a motion to adjourn.  The chair ruled this motion out of order since voting on the motion before the assembly had begun.  Correct action by the chair?  Thank you.

 

9 hours ago, Kim Goldsworthy said:

Yes.

Robert's Rules is clear. -- Once the taking of a vote has begun, any motion not directly related to the vote is out of order.

This may be a bit of an understatement. Even points of order regarding a vote being taken cannot be raised during the taking of the vote.