Voting to allow an electronic vote

[Alexander George]

Can members, at a formal meeting, vote to allow for an electronic vote (some time after the meeting) on a motion? 

Thanks.

[Greg Goodwiller, PRP]

That is covered in RONR in the section titled "A vote by mail," which concludes "E-mail and other means of electronic communication can be tailored to comply with these requirements" (RONR 45:57-9). That section begins, however, by saying "A vote by mail, when authorized in the bylaws, is generally reserved for important issues, such as an amendment to the bylaws or an election of officers - on which a full vote of the membership is desirable . . ."

So if your bylaws do not authorize such votes, amending your bylaws would need to happen first.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 4/6/2023 at 9:40 AM, Alexander George said:

Can members, at a formal meeting, vote to allow for an electronic vote (some time after the meeting) on a motion? 

Thanks.

No, not unless that vote is on a motion to amend the bylaws, which has rules of its own.  Voting by electronic means, outside of a meeting, would have to be authorized in the bylaws.  An ordinary main motion is not sufficient.