Robert's Parliamentary Practice/Chapter 19
CHAPTER XIX.
VOTING AND ELECTIONS.
The ordinary method of voting is by voice, or viva voce as it is called, described on page lo. In some organizations the vote is taken by "show of hands." The chair in this case says, "As many as are in favor of the motion will hold up their right hands. Down. Those opposed will signify it in the same way [or, will hold up their right hands]. The affirmative has it, and the motion is adopted." The affirmative vote is always taken first.
Another method of voting is by rising. The chair puts the question in a similar way, replacing "hold up their right hands" by the word "rise," and replacing the word "Down" by "Be seated." This method is used whenever a "Division" is called for, and whenever there is difficulty in deciding from the sound which side has won.
These formal methods of voting are frequently avoided and much time saved by asking for "General Consent." When a member wishes to have something done that he thinks all will agree to, he obtains the floor, states what he desires to have done, and asks for general consent. The chair repeats the request and asks if there is any objection. If no one objects the chair proceeds practically the same as if the thing had been adopted by a formal vote. For instance, suppose after the adoption of a resolution a grammatical error is detected. Instead of reconsidering the vote and amending and then re-adopting the resolution, the chair should state the desired correction and ask if there is any objection to its being made. Hearing none he should say so and should announce the resolution as amended. [See page 148 for illustration.] So when the minutes are read the chair asks if there are any corrections. If there are none he declares the minutes approved. Granting general consent does not necessarily mean that all the members favor the proposed action. In some cases it means only that those opposed know that their opposition is useless; in order to save time they remain silent.
Another method of voting in ordinary societies is by ballot. This method is used when secrecy as to a member's vote is desired, or when the vote is taken by mail. It is nearly always used in electing members and officers. The ballots are usually slips of paper upon which the names of the candidates are written or printed. In secret organizations black and white balls are generally used in voting for candidates for membership. This or any other form of voting may be ordered on any question by a majority vote. If the vote is to be by ballot the chairman appoints tellers to distribute, collect, and count the ballots, and to report the vote to the society. The number of tellers is dependent upon the number of voters, the number of offices to be filled, the number of candidates, and the possibility of attempted fraud. In a small society two tellers are usually all that are required, but if there is any danger of fraud there should be four. In large conventions twenty or more divided into small groups may be advisable. In all cases the tellers should be very careful, accurate persons who have the confidence of the society, and who represent the different prominent candidates.
In using paper ballots for voting on the reception of a member, if there is only one candidate, the chair directs the tellers to distribute slips of paper, one to each member, and directs the members to write on their ballots "Yes" or "No." The same method is adopted in voting on the expulsion of a member.
If there are several candidates for membership and only one vacancy, the president directs that each member write on his slip the name of the candidate for whom he votes. This latter method is also adopted in the election of officers when each officer is voted for by a separate ballot which is not printed. In the case of electing an officer the voting is not limited to candidates that have been nominated.
When the ballots have been prepared the president directs the tellers to collect them. This should be done in such a way that the tellers do not see for whom the votes are cast. The tellers then retire and count the ballots, bringing back for the assembly's decision any question about which there is difference of opinion. The decision by the tellers themselves must always be unanimous.
At the annual or periodical election of officers most societies have a nominating committee previously appointed which submits a ticket with the name of a nominee for each office. At the time the committee reports, additional nominations may be made from the floor. The ticket may or may not be printed. It is obvious that it cannot be printed when the election is held immediately after the nominations are made. If the ticket is not printed, and the officers are all voted for at one time, the following method may be used: The names of the nominees for the first office are repeated by the chair and each member writes on his blank ballot the name of the office and of the candidate for whom he votes. Then the chair repeats the names of the candidates for the next office, and so on. Where it is feasible, the names of the candidates may be written on a blackboard.
When the ballot is printed with only one candidate for each office, the voter makes no mark upon it unless he wishes not to vote for a candidate. In this case he crosses out the printed name and replaces it, if he wishes, by the name of his choice. If the names of more than one candidate for an office are printed, he puts a cross at the right or the left of the name of his choice, unless he wishes to vote for another candidate. In the latter case he writes the name of his choice below the printed names, preferably crossing out the printed names.
Instead of the tellers collecting the ballots, many societies provide a stationary ballot box in which the ballots are deposited by the voters or by a teller to whom they are handed by the voters. The latter method is the better. Where this plan is adopted the polls are said to be open all the time during which members may deposit their ballots. If the society is in session during the voting, it may close the polls by a two-thirds vote after a reasonable time has been given members to prepare and to deposit their ballots. After the polls have been closed, no more ballots can be received unless the polls are reopened. This may be done by a majority vote.
When counting the ballots tellers should prepare a tally sheet by writing the title of each office to be filled, and under each title, on the left of the sheet, the names of all the nominees for that office. Space should be left for entering additional names, since votes may be cast for those not nominated. As one teller reads each ballot the other marks a vertical line to the right of the name called. The fifth line, instead of being vertical, is drawn diagonally across the preceding four lines, thus making groups of five as shown in the Tally Sheet, page 178.
If there are four tellers one reads aloud the ballots, handing each one as read to another teller who should represent another of the leading candidates. The other two tellers keep duplicate records on tally sheets as described above, one calling out "tally" whenever making a diagonal line. This serves to show the tellers whether their records agree. If they disagree the count must be made again from the beginning.
The tellers should always credit a ballot to the candidate for whom it was evidently intended though the name may be misspelled or the directions printed on the ballot may not be strictly complied with. If any one of the tellers is in doubt as to crediting a vote the case should be reported to the society and instructions requested. The report in the form shown on page 177 should be signed by all the tellers.
When the tellers' report is prepared, their chairman submits it without announcing any election since this must be done by the presiding officer only.
A distinction should be made between an election in a society which is in session, and an election in a political body where the voters are not assembled. In the latter case it is necessary to deputize some persons to act as judges of election, since it is impracticable for the voters to do this as is done in an ordinary society.
Voting is also done by mail, and by roll-call (yeas and nays). Voting by mail is used in important matters, such as amending by-laws and electing officers, in organizations whose members are greatly scattered. Voting by roll-call is used in bodies such as city councils responsible to a constituency, when it is desired to place on the record and make public each member's vote. It consumes much time and is useless in cases where the vote for each member is not published.
Majority, Plurality, Two-thirds. A majority is more than half. A candidate has a plurality vote when he receives more votes than any other candidate. A majority vote is more than half of the votes cast, which is usually a very different thing from a vote of a majority of the members present, or a majority of the members. Thus, if 12 members vote, and 21 are present at a meeting of a society having 80 members, a majority vote is 7; a vote of a majority of the members present is 11; and a vote of a majority of the members, or of the society, is 41. So, a two-thirds vote is 8; a vote of two-thirds of the members present is 14; and a vote of two-thirds of the members, or a two-thirds vote of the members of the society, is 54. A majority vote is all that is required for the adoption of any proper motion except those in the list of motions requiring a two-thirds vote, page 174. A majority vote is necessary for an election, unless the by-laws, or a vote of the society, authorizes a plurality to elect. When it is stated that a motion requires a two-thirds vote it is meant that the affirmative vote must be at least twice as large as the negative vote in order that the motion may be adopted. The by-laws of an ordinary society should never require for any purpose a vote of a majority or of two-thirds of the members unless they allow voting by mail. The chairman may vote whenever his vote will affect the result. In case of ballot voting, he must vote before the polls are closed. In voting by roll-call the chairman's name is called last.
For further information in regard to Voting and Elections see R. O. R., pages 188-205, and especially the elaborate article on Nominations and Elections in "Parliamentary Law."
Practice Work.
(1) Give the form for taking the vote by show of hands: By rising.
(2) What is meant by General Consent? Cite an illustration of the acceptance of the minutes by general consent in one of the Drills.
(3) When is the ballot form of voting best? What are the duties of the tellers? What should be their characteristics?
(4) Describe the procedure as to distribution of ballots and the chair's directions when one person is to be elected to membership by ballot. How does this procedure differ when there are several candidates and one vacancy?
(5) Describe the manner of collecting ballots and give the caution mentioned in the text.
(6) Show how ballots are to be counted illustrating by a tally sheet in groups of five. Explain what is to be done with any disputed vote.
(7) Who submits the tellers' report? Who declares the election?
(8) Assume that you have no printed ticket and nominations are made by a nominating committee: Give plan suggested for the voting by ballot.
(9) Assume that you have a printed ticket with two candidates for each office: Write the procedure.
(10) Name two other ways of voting that have not been mentioned in this practice work. When is each of these two especially suitable?
(11) Under what circumstances may the chairman vote? In the following cases of viva voce votes, state whether the chair can vote, and if so, state the side on which he may vote And the effect of his vote:
A majority vote being required:
(a) ayes 7, noes 6; (b) ayes 6, noes 7; (c) ayes 7, noes 7.
A two-thirds vote being required:
(a) ayes 9, noes 4; (b) ayes 9, noes 5.