Abstentions

[Guest Kim Goldsworthy]

Sheila,

Since you are dealing with customized wording, then it won't be possible to point to a page in RONR to "prove" that one interpretation is correct.

Under RONR:

• A blank ballot is still a ballot.

• A "

[Guest Dan Honemann]

No."

[Guest Trina]

> 75% of those casting a ballot <

Perhaps there is some ambiguity, in which case your organization will have to resolve it. However, I don't believe that a ballot marked 'abstain' is being 'cast' in any direction. 'Cast' doesn't mean the sa"

[Guest Kim Goldsworthy]

Trina,

>>'Cast' doesn't mean the same thing as 'turn in'.<<

kg: Yes, it does.

When Caesar said, "Alea iacta est" (the die has now been cast"), he referred to a rolling of dice (in singular form).

Caesar"

[Guest Trina]

> Trina,

>>'Cast' doesn't mean the same thing as 'turn in'.<<

kg: Yes, it does. <

So, Sheila, you see why the decision is up to your organization :-)

I'm not sure yet, but I don't think I will be persuaded "

[Guest J. J.]

If the bylaws actually say "75% of those casting a ballot," the member did chose to cast a ballot even if he wrote "abstain." I would say yes.

I would add that this rule is specific to your bylaws and is not part of RONR."

[Guest Sheila]

Thank you all for your input. It was originally written so that abstentions would not count as a no vote. "

[Guest Gary c Tesser]

It apparently didn't do the trick. Even has Mr Goldsworthy arguing with himself, which is never a good idea, as well as arguing with Trina, which isn't, either.

Kim, Caesar knew darn well he was voting. To cast die such that abstaining is possi"

[David A Foulkes]

Gary, when I thumb through a dictionary looking up a word, I regularly come out of it with at least one other new word in my vocabulary as a result. Reading your replies is often the same experience. :)"

[Guest Kim Goldsworthy]

GcT,

Don't confuse "voting" with "casting".

E.g., When Jesus "cast out demons", was Jesus (a.) voting? (b.) tallying; (b.) marking?

Nay, verify, I say unto you.

He was "casting out" - "

[David A Foulkes]

It sounds like your saying that in order to abstain during a ballot vote, the only way to do so is to keep your ballot and not return to the teller. Can't you just return a blank ballot (folded so secrecy of your vote is maintained) and have it still be "

[Guest H.Wm.Mountcastle]

>>It sounds like your saying that in order to abstain during a ballot vote, the only way to do so is to keep your ballot and not return to the teller.<<

I don't think that's what Mr. Goldsworthy is saying at all. I think he's saying t"

[David A Foulkes]

My apologies Mr G, and my thanks Mr H. I read what I wanted to read - "75% of those casting a vote" and glossed right over "ballot."

(insert sheepish grin smiley here)"

[Guest Mr. J!]

What if a voter turns in a ballot, carefully folded, with the words "Ce n'est pas un vote"?"

[Guest Sheila]

So, would it have been better to word it "75% of the votes submitted"?"

[Guest H.Wm.Mountcastle]

The best language would probably be "a three-fourths vote"."

[Guest Nancy N.]

But yes, Sheila, that would have been better, and thanks for distracting me, as I was about to argue theological procedure with Kim again."

[Guest Trina]

Jesus and Peter were perhaps 'casting', yet not 'casting ballots'.

If one looks at the origins of 'ballot', namely the black and white balls dropped into a box, in that context it was impossible to cast an abstaining ballot. Each ballot dropped ("