Voting - Breaking a Tie

[Guest Ann]

How is a tie broken from a vote by secret ballot? Our president voted because it was a ballot vote. This is not addressed in our by-laws.

[hmtcastle]

How is a tie broken from a vote by secret ballot? Our president voted because it was a ballot vote. This is not addressed in our by-laws.

If it's a vote on a motion, the motion is defeated.

If it's an election, you vote again and as often as necessary until someone is elected.

[paulmcclintock]

How is a tie broken from a vote by secret ballot? Our president voted because it was a ballot vote. This is not addressed in our by-laws.

When there is a secret ballot vote, the chair may vote when every one else does. For ballot votes, the chair may not later vote, even when his/her vote would affect the result.

No need for bylaws to address it directly if they adopt RONR, because RONR addresses it.

[Gary Novosielski]

How is a tie broken from a vote by secret ballot? Our president voted because it was a ballot vote. This is not addressed in our by-laws.

Ties don't typically need to be "broken". A tie vote is less than a majority, so if it's on a motion, the motion is defeated.

Therefore, I assume you must be talking about a tied election, where you still need to reach a decision.

If it's one-seat office, and the top two candidates are tied, then your election is not complete, and you vote again.

If it's a three-seat committee, for example, and either first or second place is tied, you're fine. If it's a tie for third, the first two are elected and you vote again for the last seat.

In all elections, there's an additional requirement that anyone elected must achieve a majority. Their name must appear on more than half the ballots cast to be elected. If second and subsequent ballot rounds are needed, no names are dropped, except for those already elected, or those who have withdrawn.