Guest Global One Posted September 19, 2021 at 11:32 PM Report Share Posted September 19, 2021 at 11:32 PM Does an 'Abstain" vote count towards a "no" vote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hieu H. Huynh Posted September 19, 2021 at 11:35 PM Report Share Posted September 19, 2021 at 11:35 PM No. Abstentions are not votes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted September 20, 2021 at 01:34 AM Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 at 01:34 AM On 9/19/2021 at 7:32 PM, Guest Global One said: Does an 'Abstain" vote count towards a "no" vote? When you abstain, what you are abstaining from is voting. It does not count as a Yes, nor as a No, nor as a vote cast. It usually has no effect on the outcome. Abstentions should normally not be called for, not be counted and not be recorded. Some chairs will ask for the Ayes, the Noes, and "any abstentions". This is improper. A person who does not answer to any of the three has in fact abstained just as surely as someone who shouts I abstain! So a voice vote should call only for Ayes and Noes. Some members may complain that they were not given the opportunity to abstain, which for obvious reasons makes no sense. To abstain, one simply does not vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Coronite Posted September 20, 2021 at 09:56 AM Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 at 09:56 AM https://robertsrules.com/frequently-asked-questions/ See FAQ #6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Honemann Posted September 20, 2021 at 04:59 PM Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 at 04:59 PM On 9/19/2021 at 7:32 PM, Guest Global One said: Does an 'Abstain" vote count towards a "no" vote? Although an abstention is certainly not a vote, it has the same effect as a "no" vote in the two instances described in RONR, 12th ed., 44:9. The first of these instances is when the vote required is based upon the number of members present, and the second is when it is based upon a majority (or any other fraction) of the entire membership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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