[EM] election-methods Digest, Vol 19, Issue 4

[Dave Ketchum]

Laws, of course, come first, to the extent they choose to become
involved (if the law writers are smart they do not get involved in what
is properly internal to an association).

Parliamentary authority, such as Robert's Rules, to the extent that
association ByLaws authorize this.

Association ByLaws.

Association activity, to the extent permitted by the bylaws.
------------------------

Robert's Rules is worth a review, for it discusses various choices and
explains why some are smarter than others.  

Here, with the problem as presented, Robert's recommends ignoring the
abstentions and declaring a win by the ayes.  As noted below, counting
abstentions as nos prevents members indicating the neutrality they may
feel.

DWK

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 14:05:28 +1100 Dharmadeva wrote:

>  If it is equivalent to a no vote, then the no is the majority.
> 
> If it is disallowed, then the majority is still not there.
> 
> What is the law on this in relation to associations, eg incorporated
> associations, as that law will have to prevail.
> 
> Is there any common law principle or is there a more usual statutory
> principle.
> 
> Remember this is concerned with the case where all are present and
still
> there are only 20 yes votes out of 60, with 30 abstentions.
> 
> :-----Original Message-----
> :From: Scott Ritchie [mailto:scott at open-vote.org] 
> :Sent: Sunday, 15 January 2006 1:41 PM
> :To: prout at ways-ahead.net
> :Cc: election-methods at electorama.com
> :Subject: Re: [EM] election-methods Digest, Vol 19, Issue 4
> :
> :On Sun, 2006-01-15 at 13:28 +1100, PROUT - Progressive Utilisation
> :wrote:
> :> The context is simply that there are say 60 people in a room - all

> :> present - and all entitled to vote. All are members of an 
> :organisation or association.
> :> :> 30 abstain
> :> 20 vote yes
> :> 10 vote no
> :> :> I believe as they are all entitled to vote and the majority do
not 
> :> have the the yes votes, it means the motion/matter is not carried.
> :
> :Why not disallow abstentions then, since an abstention becomes 
> :absolutely equivalent to a no vote?
> :
> :-Scott Ritchie

-- 
 davek at clarityconnect.com    people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/davek
 Dave Ketchum   108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708   607-687-5026
           Do to no one what you would not want done to you.
                 If you want peace, work for justice.



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