Secret Vote

[mstrickland]

What is the Robert's rule for voting? Example: you have two candidates nominated for First Vice President the two candidates leave the room and everyone writes their candidates name of choice on a (sheet of paper) ballot. The votes are counted by each ballot - the voters name is not placed on the ballot only the nominated person. Is the procedure correct?

The following is the section from our bylaws:

Article XI. Voting and Quorum

Section 1. Forty percent (40%) of all voting members of the Executive Committee or the

General Membership Board shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special

meeting.

Section 2. Assuming a quorum, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present

shall be necessary to act favorably on any matter, except that; a change in

method of member assessments for budgetary purposes must be approved by a

two-thirds majority vote of the General Membership Board.

Section 3. At all meetings, each eligible voting member shall have only one (1) vote.

Section 4. No absentee ballots shall be permitted in any method of voting, except voting

by mail or email which shall be made a matter of record in the minutes at the

next meeting of the Board.

[Robert B Fish]

What is the Robert's rule for voting? Example: you have two candidates nominated for First Vice President the two candidates leave the room and everyone writes their candidates name of choice on a (sheet of paper) ballot. The votes are counted by each ballot - the voters name is not placed on the ballot only the nominated person. Is the procedure correct?

The following is the section from our bylaws:

Article XI. Voting and Quorum

Section 1. Forty percent (40%) of all voting members of the Executive Committee or the

General Membership Board shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special

meeting.

Section 2. Assuming a quorum, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present

shall be necessary to act favorably on any matter, except that; a change in

method of member assessments for budgetary purposes must be approved by a

two-thirds majority vote of the General Membership Board.

Section 3. At all meetings, each eligible voting member shall have only one (1) vote.

Section 4. No absentee ballots shall be permitted in any method of voting, except voting

by mail or email which shall be made a matter of record in the minutes at the

next meeting of the Board.

It is not required that the nominated persons leave the room during voting, even if by voice. When voting by ballot, they have the right to also vote if they are members and their leaving the room serves no purpose.

When voting by (secret) ballot, your could either check off the candidate of yoru choice or you could write the name fo the candidate of your choice on a blank piece of paper.

The votes are counted by the tellers and the vote totals reported openly to the chairman who then announces the result.

Note that a majority of those present and voting is required to win. In the case of 3 or more candidates, re-votign could be required.

-Bob

[hmtcastle]

Note that the section of the bylaws cited appears to refer only to the board. The quorum requirement for meetings of the general membership might be different and the procedures for conducting a general election might be different. It's possible that the board elects the officers or it's possible that they are directly elected by the general membership.

This is why bylaws can only be interpreted in their entirety (excerpts, however apparently self-contained, are insufficient) and why we try not to interpret bylaws on this forum.

[mstrickland]

Is the voters name required on the secret ballot piece of paper?

[hmtcastle]

Is the voters name required on the secret ballot piece of paper?

No! There should be nothing on the ballot to indicate the identity of the voter. That's what makes a ballot vote a secret vote.

[paulmcclintock]

Note that a majority of those present and voting is required to win.

But the bylaw quoted said "the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary to act favorably on any matter...." Although the RONR rule is "majority of those present and voting" (in essence), their bylaw rule of "majority of those present" (in essence) superseded the RONR rule.

In the case of 3 or more candidates, re-votign could be required.

Even with two candidates you may have to vote again:

A. if there is a tie;

B. if the "majority" winner is only a majority of those voting, but not a majority of those present.

Paul McClintock