Voting and Quorum
Unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting
One of the useful techniques to add to your voting toolkit is “unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting.” If allowed by state law, you can use this approach when it’s not feasible to hold a live board meeting. In order to do this, prepare a written motion proposing the action that you would…
Read MoreCan committees take official votes? Is a “straw poll” allowed?
Dear Dinosaur: A secretary forwarded a board member’s question: “I have always been told that we could not take an official vote in committee. Can you find anything about this?” This came up in a governance committee where members were “voting” to move a policy change to the whole board for vote. Is this straw…
Read MoreWhen and how can you change your vote?
A reader contacted us with some concern because a member of her local government body had changed their vote in order to be able to move reconsideration at the next meeting. Was this legitimate? A note about “reconsideration” First off, readers should know that ordinarily, the motion “to reconsider” can be made only during the…
Read MoreCan we vote on 10 ordinances at once?
Dear Dinosaur: We have 10 ordinances on tonight’s agenda for pay increases for all Village employees. Each ordinance covers a department. After they discuss each piece and nothing has to be revised or discussed further, can they vote all ten ordinances in one vote, rather than voting on each one individually? Answer: From a Robert’s…
Read MoreYou must call for the negative vote
One of the surprising rules about voting is that when taking the vote, the chair MUST call for the negative vote
Read MoreWhen is a quorum not enough?
It seems that confusion is rampant about the “quorum” and related voting issues. Read on:
Read MoreCounting a vote wrong is dangerous
Updated February 17, 2020 Counting a vote wrong can land you in big trouble. As readers know, the QUORUM is the minimum number of voting members who must be present for business to be done. Once you have your quorum in place, you can take action by discussion and voting. (Read “what is a quorum”…
Read MoreTie vote fails
Updated July 22, 2021 What happens when a vote is tied? Here are a few angles to this question. A reader writes: I am the Vice-Chair of a small board—three people, Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. We have dual roles. One voted yes. One voted no. One abstained. Does the motion pass or is the motion…
Read MoreDon’t take a two-thirds vote by voice
When you have to take a two-thirds vote, take it by a show of hands. Don’t use voice, as in this video from Amherst, Massachusetts!
Read MoreUnanimous consent will slash your meeting time
Unanimous consent is one of the most useful tools in Robert’s Rules of order. Yet this method of voting is little known. Use it well, and your meetings will be much more efficient. Your members will also be grateful!
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