voting

[Guest robin]

my question is can children vote? their parents tell them when to raise their hands

[jstackpo]

If the children are member of the association and the association has no related restrictions in the bylaws, certainly they can vote. ALL members can vote. RONR has no age limitations (at either end...)

[STA]

While many amusement parks limit participation to those who are "this tall", in RONR-land all members can vote, regardless of height. Any restrictions would have to be in your bylaws.

[hmtcastle]

their parents tell them when to raise their hands

Many people vote the way others tell them to. I believe the technical term is "ditto-head".

[David A Foulkes]

Many people vote the way others tell them to. I believe the technical term is "ditto-head".

".,."

^.\_/

[Gary c Tesser]

my question is can children vote? their parents tell them when to raise their hands

A member who does not have free choice in his or her vote is not a real member, and the bylaws should reflect this.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

My question is, can children vote?

The rule is, "Members vote."

• If the child is a member, then the child can vote.

• If the adult is not a member, then the adult cannot vote.

• Thus, it makes no difference if the member is a minor child or a senile old adult.

Their parents tell them when to raise their hands.

This violates no rule in Robert's Rules.

Members are free to:

• consult astrology charts prior to voting.

• flip a coin prior to voting.

• shake the Magic Eight Ball prior to voting.

• read the prophesies of Nostradamus prior to voting.

• ask lobbyists for money prior to voting.

... and ...

• obey their parents prior to voting.

• disobey their parents prior to voting.

If the parents are not members themselves, then perhaps the parents ought to be ordered from the meeting hall prior to voting, if you suspect that a bias is creeping in, or that corruption is a problem.

[hmtcastle]

A member who does not have free choice in his or her vote is not a real member, and the bylaws should reflect this.

Perhaps a sample bylaw would be instructive (not to mention entertaining).

[Josh Martin]

Perhaps a sample bylaw would be instructive (not to mention entertaining).

I suspect Mr. Tesser was thinking of a Bylaw which would have an age requirement for membership, and his statement was suggested as food for thought rather than language for Bylaws.

[Gary c Tesser]

Perhaps a sample bylaw would be instructive (not to mention entertaining).

Actually, I hadn't thought it through, but I was looking for some means of addressing a pattern of coercion of one set of members by another, rather than disenfranchising the younger members. As this website used to say, "-Some bylaws are aspirational in nature....-"

[Josh Martin]

Actually, I hadn't thought it through, but I was looking for some means of addressing a pattern of coercion of one set of members by another, rather than disenfranchising the younger members. As this website used to say, "-Some bylaws are aspirational in nature....-"

Well, I agree with Mr. Mountcastle in that case. Such a Bylaw would be difficult to write and more difficult to enforce, although it would likely be entertaining. Your honesty is admirable, however. A lesser man may have just gone with, "Yeah, what he said!"

[Gary c Tesser]

Actually, I hadn't thought it through, but I was looking for some means of addressing a pattern of coercion of one set of members by another, rather than disenfranchising the younger members. As this website used to say, "-Some bylaws are aspirational in nature....-"

Here's a start. "While the meeting is in progress, no member may be seated within two meters of any members within five years of age of him, and within two degrees of consanguinity."

[jstackpo]

Well, there already is a quite restrictive rule in RONR - p. 373, lines 10-12.

You want more than that?!?

[Dan Honemann]

Well, there already is a quite restrictive rule in RONR - p. 373, lines 10-12.

You want more than that?!?

That's a restrictive rule?

Looks like nothing more than a statement of fact to me.

[Trina]

That's a restrictive rule?

Looks like nothing more than a statement of fact to me.

Looks aspirational to me

'rational decisions'

'decisions of consequence'

'by intelligent people'

[Trina]

Here's a start. "While the meeting is in progress, no member may be seated within two meters of any members within five years of age of him, and within two degrees of consanguinity."

Hmmm, simplest way to implement such an algorithm is for everyone to sit at least 2m away from anyone else. Need a big room, I guess

[Dan Honemann]

Looks aspirational to me

'rational decisions'

'decisions of consequence'

'by intelligent people'

Well, even if such a statement of fact can be aspirational (which I sincerely doubt), it certainly isn't a rule.

[Dbaylor55]

Many people vote the way others tell them to. I believe the technical term is "ditto-head".

Mr. Moderator, I call the gentleman to order.