Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q:

  1. What is the president allowed to do?
  2. What kind of vote can be requested?
  3. When our president calls a special meeting for a specific purpose and he asks for a secret ballot vote and the members not attending - can they vote secret ballot? Can our president ask for a secret ballot?

- H., Dec. 17, 1998

A:

  1. This is a very broad question. In general, the presiding officer is a facilitator much more than a participant. His job is to ensure an efficient and fair meeting. This means that he should preside so that he is perceived to be impartial. (RONR p. 389.)
  2. Unless the bylaws prescribe how a vote is to be taken (for example, that elections of officers be by ballot vote), the assembly determines what method to use to vote. (RONR p. 279-280.) The default method for votes requiring a majority for adoption is voice vote. Other methods, such as ballot, roll call, rising, counted rising, and show of hands, are common. There are also some less common forms, such as electronic and absentee (including proxy and mail-in).
    A good presiding officer, recognizing that a more representative vote could be attained by ballot than by voice vote, will suggest the better method. He cannot, however, demand it. The final choice is the assembly's, so if you object to his suggestion that the vote be by ballot, you can move that the method be put to a vote. If your motion is seconded and adopted by a majority, the assembly has chosen.
  3. Members not in attendance cannot vote unless the bylaws specifically allow it. (RONR p. 415.) Your president can ask for a secret ballot, as discussed above.

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