VOTES AND VOTING

• Importance of votes


  • All matters brought before the assembly can be properly disposed of only by the vote of the members
  • Organizations provide in their constitution or by-laws the kind of vote necessary for the disposition of certain important questions
• Types of votes


  • Majority vote
  • Percentage vote
  • Plurality vote
  • Tie vote
  • Unanimous vote
• Majority vote


  At least one-half plus one of the legal votes cast
• Variations of majority vote

  • Majority of legal votes
  • Majority of total votes cast
  • Majority of members present
  • Majority of all members
• Percentage vote


  The proportion of a certain whole, e.g. two-thirds of the legal votes cast or three-fourths of the members present
• Plurality vote


  A vote larger by at least one over the total vote of any other candidate or proposition
• Tie vote


  When two or more candidates or propositions each receive the same number of the highest vote
• Breaking and creating a tie

  1. Presiding officer can vote to break or create a tie in certain cases

  2. Presiding officer can only vote once on a particular question
• Unanimous vote


  When a candidate or proposition obtains the total number of the legal or valid votes cast
• Illegal votes, void and blank ballots are not counted in determining the number of legal votes cast
• Putting the question


  1. Chair asks "Are you ready for the question?"

  2. Chair repeats the motion before taking the vote

  3. Members should refrain from talking or moving around during the vote
• Methods of voting


  • Voice vote
  • Show of hands
  • Rising
  • Roll call
  • General consent
  • Ballot
• Voice vote


  The most expeditious method, used for questions requiring only a majority vote
• Show of hands


  Raising right hand to indicate vote
• Rising vote


  Members stand to indicate vote, for an accurate count
• Roll call vote


  Members' votes recorded individually, used when members are responsible to other groups
• General consent


  Questions decided without formal vote, indicates unanimity
• Ordering a question by majority vote without debate

  1. Those in favor say Aye

  2. Those against say No

  3. Secretary calls the roll

  4. Presiding officer announces the result
• General consent


  Unanimity of opinion, questions decided without formality of voting
• Voting by general consent

  1. Chair disposes of business by assuming action is acceptable

  2. Chair feels motion is generally favored and announces it is carried by general consent
• If any objection is raised, general consent method must be disregarded and question put to a regular vote
• Voting by ballot


  Principal purpose is secrecy, commonly used for elections and deciding sensitive questions
• Voting by ballot


  1. Chair appoints tellers committee

  2. Tellers distribute, collect and count ballots

  3. Chair announces results without revealing winners
• Absent members cannot vote unless organization's rules allow absentee voting
• Absentee voting


  Voting by mail or by proxy
• Cumulative voting


  Allows voters to concentrate votes on one candidate, designed to protect minority interests
• Filling blanks


  Each name or proposition is voted on independently in order proposed
• Announcing the vote


  Chair announces whether motion is carried or lost, and its effect
• Division of the assembly

  Member can call for a re-vote if doubts Chair's estimate
• Reopening of polls


  Late arriving member can vote if polls are reopened by motion
• Change of vote


  Member can change vote before result announced, except for ballot votes
• Abstentions


  • Member's right, except where rules compel voting
  • Member cannot vote on matters of direct personal interest