Abstaining from voting on board issues

[Guest Peter]

If there is a 5 member board and there is a topic that needs to be voted on by the board, can a newly elected board member abstain from voting if they are not confident about there answer ?

[Gary Novosielski]

If there is a 5 member board and there is a topic that needs to be voted on by the board, can a newly elected board member abstain from voting if they are not confident about [their] answer ?

No one can be compelled to vote on any issue.

However, there is no office called "newly elected board member." There are only board members. It is up to all board members to do the best they can, get informed, participate in discussion, and vote.

[Tim Wynn]

If there is a 5 member board and there is a topic that needs to be voted on by the board, can a newly elected board member abstain from voting if they are not confident about there answer ?

Any member can abstain from voting. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 394, l. 6-9.

[Rev Ed]

Also, any member has the right to make a motion to refer the issue to a Committee, or to postpone the issue until the next meeting. Referring the issue to a Committee helps especially if several members are not sure about an issue and want more information. Postponing the issue is also a benefit for all members, but also allows for a chance for the newest member to do some research (and perhaps have an informal discussion outside the meeting with his/her fellow Board members) prior to making a decision. However, at the end of the day, the member has the right to abstain.