Kjottmar Posted January 18, 2024 at 06:26 AM Report Posted January 18, 2024 at 06:26 AM For our organization, there are 19 members and a quorum is 10. If we have 10 people present, and one person abstains from a vote, does their choice to not participate in that vote mean that we are now under quorum (with only 9 participating members)? Or are they still considered present and thus still part of quorum? Quote
Shmuel Gerber Posted January 21, 2024 at 12:09 AM Report Posted January 21, 2024 at 12:09 AM On 1/18/2024 at 1:26 AM, Kjottmar said: If we have 10 people present, and one person abstains from a vote, does their choice to not participate in that vote mean that we are now under quorum (with only 9 participating members)? No. On 1/18/2024 at 1:26 AM, Kjottmar said: Or are they still considered present and thus still part of quorum? Yes. Quote
Josh Martin Posted January 21, 2024 at 06:38 PM Report Posted January 21, 2024 at 06:38 PM On 1/18/2024 at 12:26 AM, Kjottmar said: For our organization, there are 19 members and a quorum is 10. If we have 10 people present, and one person abstains from a vote, does their choice to not participate in that vote mean that we are now under quorum (with only 9 participating members)? Or are they still considered present and thus still part of quorum? "As indicated in 3:3, a quorum in an assembly is the number of members (see definition, 1:4) who must be present in order that business can be validly transacted. The quorum refers to the number of members present, not to the number actually voting on a particular question." RONR (12th ed.) 40:1, emphasis added Assuming the member remains in the room, the member is still present. Quote
Drake Savory Posted January 21, 2024 at 07:45 PM Report Posted January 21, 2024 at 07:45 PM Quorum depends on the number of people physically there. It has absolutely nothing to do with the number voting. Quote
Gary Novosielski Posted January 21, 2024 at 09:17 PM Report Posted January 21, 2024 at 09:17 PM On 1/18/2024 at 1:26 AM, Kjottmar said: For our organization, there are 19 members and a quorum is 10. If we have 10 people present, and one person abstains from a vote, does their choice to not participate in that vote mean that we are now under quorum (with only 9 participating members)? Or are they still considered present and thus still part of quorum? Quorum refers to the number present, not the number voting. That's why vote thresholds use the phrase "present and voting", because one does not imply the other automatically. Members are still considered present if they are still present. If they "abstain" by walking out, they are not considered present. Quote
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