Does an Abstention preclude unanimity ?

[Guest VNH]

Our club bi-laws require a "...unanimous vote of the members present" to pass a particular "item".  Does that mean that an abstention by one of the "members present" will cause the "item" to fail?

[Shmuel Gerber]

On 9/4/2022 at 3:24 PM, Guest VNH said:

Our club bi-laws require a "...unanimous vote of the members present" to pass a particular "item".  Does that mean that an abstention by one of the "members present" will cause the "item" to fail?

The language is ambiguous; it will be up to your club to decide what it means. If it had just required a "unanimous vote," then abstentions would not cause the item to fail. 

[Guest VNH]

On 9/4/2022 at 2:30 PM, Shmuel Gerber said:

The language is ambiguous; it will be up to your club to decide what it means. If it had just required a "unanimous vote," then abstentions would not cause the item to fail. 

Thank you, Had I gone to the document for an answer, I would have had my answer. That is a lesson in itself.

"...by a unanimous vote in favor by  current members present and voting"

[Gary Novosielski]

On 9/4/2022 at 10:02 PM, Guest VNH said:

Thank you, Had I gone to the document for an answer, I would have had my answer. That is a lesson in itself.

"...by a unanimous vote in favor by  current members present and voting"

So the language quoted in the original question was not, in fact a quote?

[Richard Brown]

On 9/4/2022 at 9:02 PM, Guest VNH said:

Thank you, Had I gone to the document for an answer, I would have had my answer. That is a lesson in itself.

"...by a unanimous vote in favor by  current members present and voting"

Thank you, guest VNH. This is why you so often to see us ask posters to please “quote the relevant bylaw provision exactly, don’t paraphrase“.  A very minor difference in the wording can make a big difference in the answer!