Election Officers Tie Vote

[Guest phillipg]

On an elected board, on a regular yearly vote for President; 1) Does the current President act as chair during the vote and 2) in the case of a tie vote--that remains dead locked through 3 rounds of voting--does the 'motion fail' and the President preside over the regular meeting? Finally, when by-laws state that elections occur on a certain date, and a majority vote cannot be reached, can a motion be made at a later date to elect a new officer?

[hmtcastle]

On an elected board, on a regular yearly vote for President; 1) Does the current President act as chair during the vote and 2) in the case of a tie vote--that remains dead locked through 3 rounds of voting--does the 'motion fail' and the President preside over the regular meeting? Finally, when by-laws state that elections occur on a certain date, and a majority vote cannot be reached, can a motion be made at a later date to elect a new officer?

The president presides and you keep voting until the election is complete. If it gets too late, you can adjourn (continue) the meeting to a later date.

[jstackpo]

1) Yes.

"

2) Well, the president continues to preside (see answer to 1) but you have an "incomplete election", not a "failed" election.

Keep trying. See #3...

3) Not exactly; you can "Fix the time to which to adjourn" (RONR, p. 234) to set up a continuation of the current (election) meeting. At that meeting you could re-open nominations for a third (compromise-?) candidate or just write him in on the ballots. Do your political homework between meetings...

[Tim Wynn]

On an elected board, on a regular yearly vote for President; 1) Does the current President act as chair during the vote

Yes, if that is a normal function of the office. It is normally the job of the president to preside at meetings of the board and the organization. He need not step down during elections, even if he is a candidate. See RONR(10th ed.), p. 436, l. 11-13.

and 2) in the case of a tie vote--that remains dead locked through 3 rounds of voting--does the 'motion fail' and the President preside over the regular meeting?

Balloting should continue until a candidate receives a majority.

Finally, when by-laws state that elections occur on a certain date, and a majority vote cannot be reached, can a motion be made at a later date to elect a new officer?

See RONR(10th ed.) p. 429, l. 32 - p. 430, l. 3 for appropriate steps to take the event the election cannot be completed.

[Guest pgiven]

The president presides and you keep voting until the election is complete. If it gets too late, you can adjourn (continue) the meeting to a later date.

Thanks one and all.