How do abstentions effect a vote?

Parliamentary Procedure Q&A

Q: According to Robert's Rules, when a majority vote is made how are the abstaining votes supposed to effect the outcome of the vote? Are they to act as negative votes or are they to be counted as a non-vote thus reducing the number required for a majority vote? Or is there more to it that needs to be addressed also in answering this question. - Michael Goodwin, Oct. 24, 1999

A: Normally, for a motion to be adopted, it requires the affirmation of a specified portion of those voting. For example, if the membership of the club was 100, and 20 are in attendance at a meeting (assuming a quorum), and a motion requiring a majority vote receives 5 affirmative votes and 4 negative votes with 11 abstentions, the motion is adopted. The abstentions have no effect on the outcome.

Occasionally, the vote required is stipulated as a specified portion of those in attendance. Using the above example, the motion would fail because only 5 of the 20 members present voted for it. The abstentions would act as negative votes.

Rarely, the vote required is stipulated as a specified portion of the membership. Again using the above example, the motion would fail because only 5 of the 100 members voted for it. The abstentions and absentees would act as negative votes.

See RONR pp. 397-98.

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