Taking an online vote

[Sheri]

Our group had a formal resolution, with information provided prior to the meeting.  When the resolution came before the group, the Chairman let us know that the vote would be taken online so that it would be secret.  The ballot was distributed immediately after the meeting.  During discussion a "friendly amendment" was made regarding the motion, but no other member 2nd the amendment, though it was discussed.  Both sides provided feedback, however the friendly amendment was never voted on. 

My question is 2 fold: 

• Was it appropriate to put the matter to a vote without resolving the issue of the friendly amendment? 
• Would the proposal come back to the assembly in order to vote on the amendment, make necessary changes to the resolution and then allow for the vote?

[jstackpo]

First a background question for Sheri:

Do your bylaws authorize absentee voting, which is clearly what you were up to since you were taking a vote outside of a real-people-in-the-same-room meeting?  If not then the whole works is invalid -- RONR, p 97ff and 423ff.

I'll bet they don't, because if they did, that authorization should include instructions for taking care of the amendment problem you ask about.

If your questions pertained to goings on IN a (real) meeting and you followed RONR, he answers would be

1)  No.

2)  Yes, you would vote on the amendment then vote on the possibly amended main motion. (Debate appropriate at each step.)

It is possible to have online (Internet) meetings that follow RONR in the basics, although they may be a bit cumbersome.  here's a link to how to do it:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8w31eocwqx067h/E-Meetings 2012.docx?dl=0

[Dan Honemann]

1 hour ago, Sheri said:

Our group had a formal resolution, with information provided prior to the meeting.  When the resolution came before the group, the Chairman let us know that the vote would be taken online so that it would be secret.  The ballot was distributed immediately after the meeting.  During discussion a "friendly amendment" was made regarding the motion, but no other member 2nd the amendment, though it was discussed.  Both sides provided feedback, however the friendly amendment was never voted on. 

My question is 2 fold: 

• Was it appropriate to put the matter to a vote without resolving the issue of the friendly amendment? 
• Would the proposal come back to the assembly in order to vote on the amendment, make necessary changes to the resolution and then allow for the vote?

Since you refer (using quotes) to a "friendly amendment", here is what RONR, 11th ed., says about such things (on p. 162):

"The term 'friendly amendment' is often used to describe an amendment offered by someone who is in sympathy with the purposes of the main motion, in the belief that the amendment will either improve the statement or effect of the main motion, presumably to the satisfaction of its maker, or will increase the chances of the main motion's adoption. Regardless of whether or not the maker of the main motion 'accepts' the amendment, it must be opened to debate and voted on formally (unless adopted by unanimous consent) and is handled under the same rules as amendments generally (see also pp. 295–98)."