Counting votes to pass a resolution

[Guest Joe Fong]

The by laws state that to pass a resolution a 2/3 positive vote is required of those that are voting in person or by proxy. If some members abstain, does that mean you are not voting so you are excluded from the base upon which a 2/3 positive vote is calculated, or does it mean you voted not to vote and you are included as part of the base upon which the 2/3 positive vote is calculated?

[George Mervosh]

To abstain is to refrain from voting. See RONR, p. 394 and FAQ#6

[Kim Goldsworthy]

The by laws state that to pass a resolution a 2/3 positive vote is required of those that are voting in person or by proxy.

If some members abstain, does that mean you are not voting so you are excluded from the base upon which a 2/3 positive vote is calculated, ...

Correct.

The phrase "those that are voting" suggests that, if your word "voting" matches what RONR means by "voting", then

then you are exclude those who abstain, because:

• those who abstain are not voting;

• those who vote are not abstaining.

... or does it mean you voted not to vote and you are included as part of the base upon which the 2/3 positive vote is calculated?

No, that is not a match for The Book.

Your phrase, "... you voted not to vote ...", is a logical contradiction.

• You cannot "vote to not vote".

• You cannot "not vote to vote".

[Dan Honemann]

Correct.

The phrase "those that are voting" suggests that, if your word "voting" matches what RONR means by "voting", then

then you are exclude those who abstain, because:

• those who abstain are not voting;

• those who vote are not abstaining.

No, that is not a match for The Book.

Your phrase, "... you voted not to vote ...", is a logical contradiction.

• You cannot "vote to not vote".

• You cannot "not vote to vote".

That clears it up.