Opinions Matter

[Guest Sheila]

Once a vote is taken and can a voter take back its vote decision after it is been recorded?   

Also, doe the voters have an opinion after the vote is taken?  

 

[Joshua Katz]

On 12/21/2023 at 3:12 PM, Guest Sheila said:

Once a vote is taken and can a voter take back its vote decision after it is been recorded?   

 

No, votes can only be changed up until the result is announced.

On 12/21/2023 at 3:12 PM, Guest Sheila said:

Also, doe the voters have an opinion after the vote is taken?  

 

I'm not sure what you mean. People think what they think. It may be relevant to see what Gen. Robert says in the introduction - that those who have lost the vote should eagerly join in the work of executing the decision, until such time as it may be reversed.

[Atul Kapur]

On 12/21/2023 at 3:12 PM, Guest Sheila said:

Once a vote is taken and can a voter take back its vote decision after it is been recorded?  

 

On 12/21/2023 at 3:25 PM, Joshua Katz said:

No, votes can only be changed up until the result is announced.

With one exception: with unanimous consent, the someone can still change their vote for a short time after the results are announced.. 

45:9 tells us

After the result of a vote has been announced, members can still ... request unanimous consent to change his vote. ... if any of these actions is to apply to a vote after the result has been announced, it must be taken immediately after the chair’s announcement, before any debate or business has intervened. For example, it is too late to take these actions

• after any member has been recognized and begun to speak in debate or to give a report or presentation, or
• after the chair has stated the question on a subsequently made motion, or
• after the chair has begun to take the vote and any member has voted on another motion that was pending.

[Josh Martin]

On 12/21/2023 at 2:12 PM, Guest Sheila said:

Once a vote is taken and can a voter take back its vote decision after it is been recorded?   

Only within a very short window of time, as more fully described above by my colleagues.

On 12/21/2023 at 2:12 PM, Guest Sheila said:

Also, doe the voters have an opinion after the vote is taken?  

This is more of a philosophical or psychological question than a parliamentary one, but I would presume that the voters continue to have opinions.

Perhaps what you mean to ask is what is the proper manner for members, particularly members who disagreed with the decision, to express those opinions. In that regard, the following statements may be of assistance. The first of these is more of an aspirational goal than a rule. The latter is an enforceable parliamentary rule.

"In an often quoted statement, the original author said: “The great lesson for democracies to learn is for the majority to give to the minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case, and then for the minority, having failed to win a majority to their views, gracefully to submit and to recognize the action as that of the entire organization, and cheerfully to assist in carrying it out, until they can secure its repeal.”" RONR (12th ed.) pg. xlvii

"In debate, a member cannot reflect adversely on any prior act of the society that is not then pending, unless a motion to reconsider, rescind, or amend it is pending, or unless he intends to conclude his remarks by making or giving notice of one of these motions." RONR (12th ed.) 43:24

If you mean something else, please clarify.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 12/21/2023 at 4:10 PM, Josh Martin said:

"In debate, a member cannot reflect adversely on any prior act of the society that is not then pending, unless a motion to reconsider, rescind, or amend it is pending, or unless he intends to conclude his remarks by making or giving notice of one of these motions." RONR (12th ed.) 43:24

Similarly:

24:2
Members have no right to criticize a ruling of the chair unless they appeal from his decision.

These might be termed the anti-kvetching rules.

Another rule that restricts opinionizing says that members may not explain their vote at the time voting is underway.  The time to explain how one intends to vote is during debate; once voting is underway it's to late to do anything but vote.

[Shmuel Gerber]

On 12/21/2023 at 5:15 PM, Gary Novosielski said:

These might be termed the anti-kvetching rules.

No kvetching, no hissing, no spitting (p. xxxiv). Are parliamentarians just a bunch of killjoys? 🙂

[Gary Novosielski]

On 12/24/2023 at 6:37 PM, Shmuel Gerber said:

No kvetching, no hissing, no spitting (p. xxxiv). Are parliamentarians just a bunch of killjoys? 🙂

I have heard some light, tasteful, hissing on occasion, being careful not to rise to the level of impertinence. And kvetching is permissible as long as there is a motion to rescind, amend, or appeal on the horizon.  Only pointless kvetching is prohibited (presuming that's not a redundancy).