Revealing the vote

[Guest Leon]

Our board plans to vote on a recommendation to the membership. Is it sufficient to record in the minutes the number of votes for and against the motion, or is there any obligation to reveal how each member of the board voted? There is nothing in the bylaws which would require this revelation.

[hmtcastle]

Our board plans to vote on a recommendation to the membership. Is it sufficient to record in the minutes the number of votes for and against the motion, or is there any obligation to reveal how each member of the board voted?

How the vote is recorded depends on the type of vote that was taken. Only in the rare instance of a roll-call vote is each member's name, and how he voted, recorded. Often it's enough to just record that the motion was adopted (or lost). In the case of an ordered counted vote, the vote totals are recorded.

In any case, only the outcome of the vote would necessarily be "revealed" to the general membership. And only if the motion was adopted. That is, only if the recommendation was made.

[Josh Martin]

In any case, only the outcome of the vote would necessarily be "revealed" to the general membership. And only if the motion was adopted. That is, only if the recommendation was made.

Well, a roll call vote would be dilatory unless the board intends to reveal the minutes to the general membership (or intends to reveal the results of the roll call vote, at the very least).

[hmtcastle]

Well, a roll call vote would be dilatory unless the board intends to reveal the minutes to the general membership (or intends to reveal the results of the roll call vote, at the very least).

I suppose. On the other hand, I don't think the fact that the vote is to be "revealed" necessarily warrants a roll-call vote.

[Josh Martin]

I suppose. On the other hand, I don't think the fact that the vote is to be "revealed" necessarily warrants a roll-call vote.

Agreed.