Voting at 2/3

[Guest Tom]

Our organization's Bylaws require a 2/3 approval of ALL of the members eligible to vote to pass certain things, not just 2/3 of the members who do vote. At a recent meeting, the Board presented 6 alternatives to the members, asking for them to approve one. Anticipating that it would be very hard to approve one, the Board included a 2nd ballot which allowed the members to vote yes/no to approve/reject each of the six options from the 1st ballot as if it were the option with the highest number of votes from the first ballot and was the ONLY option available to them. It was hoped by the Board that we would get the necessary 2/3 vote on that second ballot if we didn't get it on the first ballot. While we never stated what we would do if the 2nd ballot didn't produce the necessary 2/3, we said that there would be the possibility of a run-off 3rd vote between the highest two from the first ballot.

Questions....are we doing this the right way, and if we do offer the third ballot, do we publicize the results of the 1st ballot or would that be considered as influencing the vote? Any better way to handle this? BTW, the second ballot came up one vote short of the 2/3 to confirm the overwhelming (but not 2/3) choice from the first ballot.

[Robert B Fish]

Our organization's Bylaws require a 2/3 approval of ALL of the members eligible to vote to pass certain things, not just 2/3 of the members who do vote. At a recent meeting, the Board presented 6 alternatives to the members, asking for them to approve one. Anticipating that it would be very hard to approve one, the Board included a 2nd ballot which allowed the members to vote yes/no to approve/reject each of the six options from the 1st ballot as if it were the option with the highest number of votes from the first ballot and was the ONLY option available to them. It was hoped by the Board that we would get the necessary 2/3 vote on that second ballot if we didn't get it on the first ballot. While we never stated what we would do if the 2nd ballot didn't produce the necessary 2/3, we said that there would be the possibility of a run-off 3rd vote between the highest two from the first ballot.

Questions....are we doing this the right way, and if we do offer the third ballot, do we publicize the results of the 1st ballot or would that be considered as influencing the vote? Any better way to handle this? BTW, the second ballot came up one vote short of the 2/3 to confirm the overwhelming (but not 2/3) choice from the first ballot.

Why are you making things so hard?

While I don't know what the 6 alternatives involve, RONR has a great way to solve motions with multiple options. It's called voting to fill a blank. You can give notice of the proposed amendment to the bylaws, and show that the bylaws have a blank and then list the 6 possibilities of filling the blank. The possibilities are voted on until one receives a majority. That fills the blank. Then you vote on the amendment and a 2/3 vote is required to adopt.

See page 157ff.

-Bob

[Josh Martin]

Why are you making things so hard?

While I don't know what the 6 alternatives involve, RONR has a great way to solve motions with multiple options. It's called voting to fill a blank. You can give notice of the proposed amendment to the bylaws, and show that the bylaws have a blank and then list the 6 possibilities of filling the blank. The possibilities are voted on until one receives a majority. That fills the blank. Then you vote on the amendment and a 2/3 vote is required to adopt.

This is an appropriate strategy if the six alternatives are simple things (cities, colors, amounts of money). If the six alternatives are complete main motions, the appropriate course of action is for one of the options to be made as a motion, and then the assembly may perfect it through debate and amendment.