Does Abstention Count Towards Quorum

[ArtFem]

We are a non-profit group. In our bylaws, a quorum is 1/2 our board members or 11 eligible voters.  In a vote that requires a majority, and we start the meeting with 12 eligible voters, but when voting, 3 people abstain, do we still have a quorum and if the vote is 5 Aye, 4Nay, 3 Abstain; has the motion be approved/adopted?  Thanks, Art Femenella

[Greg Goodwiller, PRP]

Assuming your rules simply say "a majority vote," then yes. A majority vote, unless qualified somehow in your rules means "of those present and voting." So even if only two voted yes, and one voted no, it would be a majority vote. And as long a quorum was present, the vote would be valid. 

[Gary Novosielski]

1 hour ago, ArtFem said:

We are a non-profit group. In our bylaws, a quorum is 1/2 our board members or 11 eligible voters.  In a vote that requires a majority, and we start the meeting with 12 eligible voters, but when voting, 3 people abstain, do we still have a quorum and if the vote is 5 Aye, 4Nay, 3 Abstain; has the motion be approved/adopted?  Thanks, Art Femenella

A quorum refers to the number of people who must be present in order to conduct normal business.  Whether they vote or abstain makes no difference in establishing the presence or absence of a quorum.  They need only be physically present.

So, if a quorum is present, a vote of 1-0 would constitute majority approval, since the yes votes outnumber the no votes, and therefore more than half of those present and voting voted in the affirmative.  (In fact, since, among those expressing a preference, there were no dissenting votes, it could technically be called unanimous.)

In your example of a 5-4 vote (abstentions are not votes and are not counted), the same logic applies. More than half of those present and voting approve, so a majority vote is satisfied.