Majority Vote and Abstinent votes

[Jeff Hermann]

Situation: Does the number present in a meeting determine majority or is it determined by the number of people who actually voted? A vote was taken by a committee of seven. The vote by that committee was 1 vote for, 3 against, and 3 abstained. Our constitution calls for a simple majority vote. The question I have is this: Is the majority of seven because that is how many members were present or is it four because you don't count the abstinent votes when determining a simple majority?

Thanks

[hmtcastle]

The question I have is this: Is the majority of seven because that is how many members were present or is it four because you don't count the abstinent votes when determining a simple majority?

A majority vote is based on the number of members present and voting. The motion was lost (defeated) by a vote of 1-3.

See also FAQ #6.