Abstaining during voice vote

Started by MichaelT21 • 8 replies • 257 views

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MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

When one abstains during a vote voice, do they simply not say "aye", or do they need to verbalize their abstention?

I normally call for "anyone in favor", and then "anyone opposed". I do not ask for folks abstaining.

lately, other Board members are saying they abstained because they didn't verbalize a vote in favor. However, there is way too much going on at a meeting for me to process which voice I heard during a voice vote.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

I'm sorry, how big is your board?

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

They could simply say "present,", but like Tim, I wonder how big is your board? If there are only three people, for example, you should be able to tell right away who says yes, so what's the problem? And what's with this "too much going at a meeting for me to process which voice I heard?" I thought you stepped down as president, so why are you even asking about this? If you still have the job, simply tell everyone to shut the hell up so the vote can be taken and it's accurate.

Voting on association issues is what board members are supposed to do - you don't get to abstain over and over again. I would expect abstaining from a vote if the board member had a conflict of interest - in which case, he or she shouldn't even participate in the discussion. If they don't want to vote for something, say so. Otherwise, the motion will fail anyway if you don't get enough people to say yes. Even better, ask for a show of hands - if you can't seem to listen closely, you should be able to count the number of hands in the air.

(are you EVER going to stop overthinking this stuff????)

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420

Posted:

For City Council votes, the clerk calls out each Councilor by name, one by one, and repeats back the councilor's name and vote:

Clerk: The motion is to approve Developer Duncare's application to re-zone Happyonce Lane. Councilor Lenin?
Councilor Lenin: For
Clerk: Councilor Lenin votes For.
Clerk: Councilor Twain?
Councilor Twain: Against
Clerk: Councilor Twain votes Against.

and so on.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 200

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By TimB4 on 02/10/2023 3:54 AM
I'm sorry, how big is your board?

Five people.

We're all Zoom with no cameras, so I sometimes catch who voice I hear and sometimes do not.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,062

Posted:

With only five people, a roll call vote (for lack of a better name) doesn't take that much longer the ayes and nays.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

With Sheila: It's the Board's job to make decisions. Directors are. not practicing their fiduciary obligation when they abstain. Abstentions should be very rare. So you. might fine a nice short blurb on this topic and send ti to all directors.

Otherwise , with Tim, just do a roll call vote. The prior vote is "abstain," if they feel they must.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 02/09/2023 2:04 PM
When one abstains during a vote voice, do they simply not say "aye", or do they need to verbalize their abstention?

I normally call for "anyone in favor", and then "anyone opposed". I do not ask for folks abstaining.

lately, other Board members are saying they abstained because they didn't verbalize a vote in favor. However, there is way too much going on at a meeting for me to process which voice I heard during a voice vote.

A voice vote's outcome is left to interpretation of the president and should be reflected as a roll call vote. "In the opinion of the chair, the "ayes' have it." For close votes, any board member or the president can demand a roll call vote and every member will vote on the record to ensure accurate counting and board intention.

A board member's attempt to abstain from a voice vote doesn't do much unless no one in the room says "Aye" or "No."

The voice vote lumps everyone into one decision and is best used when there's little to no doubt as to the outcome of a vote.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

Correction: A voice vote should not be reflected as a roll call vote.

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