Board email voting

[swagaman]

Our organization's bylaws do not specifically authorize e-mail voting. The bylaws do allow the board of directors to adopt their own rules of procedure. May the board adopt rules of procedure that include a process for conducting votes via e-mail?

[Chris Harrison]

No (RONR p. 2 footnote, p. 244d, p. 255, pp. 408-409).

[Rob Elsman]

If the society has adopted RONR as its parliamentary authority, no. A main motion to adopt such a special rule of order is an improper main motion under the rule of RONR (10th ed.), p. 106, ll. 20-25, since the main motion proposes a rule that conflicts with a fundamental principle of parliamentary law embodied in the parliamentary authority.

[alanh49]

If the society has adopted RONR as its parliamentary authority, no. A main motion to adopt such a special rule of order is an improper main motion under the rule of RONR (10th ed.), p. 106, ll. 20-25, since the main motion proposes a rule that conflicts with a fundamental principle of parliamentary law embodied in the parliamentary authority.

But, on page 15 l.31-33 says "Special rules of order supersede any rules in the parliamentary authority with which they may conflict."

[Chris Harrison]

But, on page 15 l.31-33 says "Special rules of order supersede any rules in the parliamentary authority with which they may conflict."

But RONR p. 2 (footnote) and pp. 408-409 say that absentee voting must be expressly authorized by the bylaws which is a more specific rule and thus controlling per Principle of Interpretation #3 on RONR p. 571.

[Tim Wynn]

But, on page 15 l.31-33 says "Special rules of order supersede any rules in the parliamentary authority with which they may conflict."

That doesn't mean that anything can be made into a special rule of order. Rob's post is in regards to creating a special rule of order, not the power it carries if it is validly created.

[Josh Martin]

But, on page 15 l.31-33 says "Special rules of order supersede any rules in the parliamentary authority with which they may conflict."

No rule in RONR should be read in a vacuum. The specific rules in RONR, 10th ed., pg. 2, footnote and pg. 408, line 31 - pg. 409, line 2 trump the general rule in RONR, 10th ed., pg. 15, lines 31-33 in the specific circumstances to which they apply. (RONR, 10th ed., pg. 19, line 9 - pg. 20, line 2)

[hmtcastle]

But, on page 15 l.31-33 says "Special rules of order supersede any rules in the parliamentary authority with which they may conflict."

What's with the large type?

To say nothing of bold and underlined text.

And, what, no color?