Election of Officers

[Guest Tony R]

Good day,

We have an organization that runs according to Robert's Rules of Order.  Our Constitution calls for voting to be done by mail, paper ballot.  the constitution also calls for 2/3 votes needed to conduct business by mail.  We have attempted to send ballots out twice for the election but on both attempts have failed to get the needed 2/3 ballots returned.  

Is there anything in Robert's Rules of Order to address this situation and how should it get resolved.

Thanks for your assistance.

CONSTITU 15 19.pdf

[Dan Honemann]

11 minutes ago, Guest Tony R said:

Good day,

We have an organization that runs according to Robert's Rules of Order.  Our Constitution calls for voting to be done by mail, paper ballot.  the constitution also calls for 2/3 votes needed to conduct business by mail.  We have attempted to send ballots out twice for the election but on both attempts have failed to get the needed 2/3 ballots returned.  

Is there anything in Robert's Rules of Order to address this situation and how should it get resolved.

Thanks for your assistance.

CONSTITU 15 19.pdf

No, there is nothing in Robert's Rules which will permit avoidance of your bylaw requirement that a quorum for the conduct of business by mail shall consist of at least two-thirds return of ballots.

 

[Gary Novosielski]

7 hours ago, Guest Tony R said:

Good day,

We have an organization that runs according to Robert's Rules of Order.  Our Constitution calls for voting to be done by mail, paper ballot.  the constitution also calls for 2/3 votes needed to conduct business by mail.  We have attempted to send ballots out twice for the election but on both attempts have failed to get the needed 2/3 ballots returned.  

Is there anything in Robert's Rules of Order to address this situation and how should it get resolved.

Thanks for your assistance.

CONSTITU 15 19.pdf

No, there's nothing in RONR to help you out, and even if there were, your bylaws would supersede that rule.

The only advice I can give you is "try harder".   Maybe have a drawing for a prize, only for names who have submitted a ballot, or some other incentive.

[Richard Brown]

14 hours ago, Guest Tony R said:

Our Constitution calls for voting to be done by mail, paper ballot.  the constitution also calls for 2/3 votes needed to conduct business by mail.  We have attempted to send ballots out twice for the election but on both attempts have failed to get the needed 2/3 ballots returned.  

What exactly do your bylaws say about this two thirds vote requirement? Please quote the entire provision exactly, don't paraphrase. You might not be interpreting it correctly.

[Gary Novosielski]

There's a link to the constitution in an earlier e-mail.  He appears to be interpreting it correctly.

 

Edited May 12, 2018 at 02:35 PM by Gary Novosielski

[Richard Brown]

49 minutes ago, Gary Novosielski said:

There's a link to the constitution in an earlier e-mail.  He appears to be interpreting it correctly.

 

I just read the applicable bylaw provisions and I agree. It seems that for mail ballots, at least two-thirds of the voting members must return ballots. A majority vote is required for election, but the vote this apparently not valid unless 2/3 of the members return ballots. As I am sure guest Tony realizes by now, that is a pretty high threshold. The organization might want to consider doing a way with that requirement  completely.

Edited May 12, 2018 at 03:25 PM by Richard Brown
Corrected typos