Reconsider - Election

[George Mervosh]

Is the motion to reconsider the vote in an election debatable?  I know nominations are debatable but it isn't clear to me that the election is.

[Josh Martin]

On 11/27/2023 at 7:35 AM, George Mervosh said:

Is the motion to reconsider the vote in an election debatable?  I know nominations are debatable but it isn't clear to me that the election is.

The 12th edition has, thankfully, added more clarification on debate on nominations.

"In large conventions, nominations are sometimes accompanied by a speech advocating the nominee's election. The nomination may then be seconded by one or more members also making speeches. In ordinary societies, however, such speeches are less common.

To give a nominating or seconding speech, a member must first be recognized by the chair while the floor is open for nominations. The member may then nominate a candidate and, without waiting for the chair to state the nomination, speak in favor of the candidate, or he or she may speak in favor of a candidate who was nominated previously. If candidates are members of the organization, speakers must exercise caution to avoid making any personal criticisms of them in debate. Rather than attacking a nominee, a speaker may advocate the election of a rival candidate. By a two-thirds vote, the assembly may adopt a motion limiting debate to any extent desired (15).

Some organizations adopt rules specifying that debate on nominations be conducted at a different time or in a different manner. Such a rule might, for example, allot each candidate (or his or her designee) equal time to state the candidate's credentials and to argue for the candidate's election." RONR (12th ed.) 46:27-29, emphasis added

The SDCs for Reconsider provide that it "Is debatable whenever the motion proposed to be reconsidered would be debatable" RONR (12th ed.) 37:9

As a result, I am inclined to think that if the rules in RONR are all that is controlling, a motion to Reconsider the vote in an election (which is only in order in very specific circumstances) is not debatable, because the floor is not open for nominations, and therefore the motion to be reconsidered is not, at that time, debatable.

[Dan Honemann]

I agree with Mr. Martin that a motion to reconsider the vote in an election is not debatable. 

On the other hand, a motion to rescind an election is debatable if it is in order under the very limited circumstances described in 35:6(c).

[George Mervosh]

Thank you both for confirming this.