can question be re-opened after a secret ballot?

[Guest margie taylor jones]

can a motion which was DEFEATED by a secret ballot, be re-opened by a person who voted to defeat the motion? How can the body be certain the person who REQUESTS TO RE-OPEN the or re-visit the DEFEATED MOTION was actually a person who voted on the prevailing side and is, therefore, eligible to re-open the debate or re-examine the question? Can a person who CLAIMS to have been on the prevailing side (and therefore eligible to re-open the question) be challenged as to their vote on secret ballot?

What is the procedure to actually OPEN or RE-VISIT a motion that was defeated soundly by SECRET BALLOT? What proof of vote would exist other than the person's testimony that they, in fact, did vote with the prevailing side, and therefore did have the right to re-open the notion for re-consideration? thank you --

[Chris Harrison]

I asked that question a few years back and if I recall correctly the consensus is that it really is a matter of taking the member's word for it because there shouldn't be any way to tell how he voted. If you really can't trust this member you have way bigger problems than whether he voted against the motion.

[Mr. J!]

Can a motion which was DEFEATED by a secret ballot, be re-opened by a person who voted to defeat the motion?

A lost motion may be renewed at a future session by any member, regardless of how or even whether he or she voted before. It is simply treated like a brand new motion.

[Trina]

can a motion which was DEFEATED by a secret ballot, be re-opened by a person who voted to defeat the motion?...

In this example, the person who voted to defeat the motion IS on the prevailing side, so has a perfect right to request that the motion be reconsidered (at the same session).

Reconsider (which is probably what you're thinking of, in terms of a motion which can only be brought be someone on the prevailing side) has limited application. Perhaps that's why there aren't elaborate rules about verifying whether the person who claimed to vote on the prevailing side actually voted that way on his secret ballot.

Once you're past the current meeting/session, anyone can offer the motion again, no matter which side he or she voted on the first time, and no matter how soundly the motion was defeated.

If a main motion has 'been rejected during the current session, it can be renewed -- that is, the same question can be introduced again as if new -- at any later session.' (RONR p. 107)

[Dan Honemann]

can a motion which was DEFEATED by a secret ballot, be re-opened by a person who voted to defeat the motion? How can the body be certain the person who REQUESTS TO RE-OPEN the or re-visit the DEFEATED MOTION was actually a person who voted on the prevailing side and is, therefore, eligible to re-open the debate or re-examine the question? Can a person who CLAIMS to have been on the prevailing side (and therefore eligible to re-open the question) be challenged as to their vote on secret ballot?

There is no doubt but that a member may make a motion to reconsider a vote which was taken by ballot if he is willing to waive the secrecy of his ballot by stating that he voted on the prevailing side (RONR, 10th ed., p. 305). His word as to how he voted is accepted.

What is the procedure to actually OPEN or RE-VISIT a motion that was defeated soundly by SECRET BALLOT? What proof of vote would exist other than the person's testimony that they, in fact, did vote with the prevailing side, and therefore did have the right to re-open the notion for re-consideration? thank you --

Well, although no proof as to how the member voted is required, the mere making of a motion to reconsider doesn't "re-open the motion for re-consideration", and if the motion had been soundly defeated, the member's motion to reconsider is very likely to be quickly and soundly defeated.