VOTING,

NOMINATION, AND
ELECTION
VOTING METHODS
DEFINITION OF TERMS
VOTING
-the process, physical and procedural, of turning individual preferences into a group
decision.
LEGAL VOTE
-a vote cast by one who is authorized to vote. It is counted, recorded, reported and used
in calculating the vote required to adopt or elect.
ILLEGAL VOTE
-a vote can by one who is not authorized to vote. It is recorded and reported but is not
used in calculating the vote required to adopt or elect.
SPOILED BALLOT
-a legal vote that has some irregularity, such that the tellers cannot allocate the vote to a
candidate or a proposal
BLANK BALLOT
-a vote cast that has an identifiable marks. It is discarded and not counted as a vote
MAJORITY
- A number greater than the half of a total. In voting, the “total” is usually of “those
voting.” Therefore a majority vote (when unqualified) means more than half of those
voting.
PLURALITY VOTE
 Where there are more than two propositions or more than two candidates, the proposition
or candidate with the most votes is declared the winner.
TWO-THIRDS VOTE
-a vote that requires at least two thirds of the votes cast to adopt a proposition.
DOUBLE-MAJORITY VOTE
-a requirement that majorities on two levels of an organization vote for a proposal before it
is adopted.
VOTE-COUNTING PROTOCOL
-the procedure by which individual votes are transformed into a group decision.
MINIMUM COMPLEMENT REQUIRED TO ADOPT OR ELECT
-a requirement that some minimum number of votes be cast in favor to adopt a proposal
or elect a candidate.
MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM
-a number greater than half of defined quorum. If a quorum is defined as ten members
presents, a majority of the quorum is six.
TWO PARTS
OF VOTING
PHYSICAL VOTE
-relates to the physical method of casting the vote and the physical method
of counting the vote.
-must be meticulously planned.
THE VOTE-COUNTING
- relates to the way the individual votes are processed to make a group
decision.
-must be correctly selected and agreed upon beforehand to ensure that
the vote result accurately reflects the wishes of the voters.
-should be included in the documents of authority.
 THE MOST COMMON
PHYSICAL METHODS OF
VOTING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER DECIDES, WITHOUT OBJECTION
- when the presiding officer senses that a motion has no opposition and
is likely to be adopted, the most efficient way to handle it is to say, “If
there is no objection, the motion is adopted (pause). There be being no
objection, the motion is adopted.”
A VOICE VOTE
-The presiding officer determines the majority of the voters cast by volume
of sound. The presiding officer calls for the vote by announcing, “All those
in favor say “aye” (pause), all those against say “no”. On hearing the vote,
the presiding officer says, “In my opinion the ayes (or noes) have it”,
pauses, and then continues, “The ayes/noes have it, and the motion is
adopted/lost.”
A SHOW OF HANDS
-equivalent to a standing vote and is used when to-thirds vote is required
or when demanded by a member on an indecisive vote.
A STANDING VOTE
-equivalent to a show of hands and is likely to be more accurate when in
large assemblies.
A SERPENTINE VOTE
-an alternative method of conducting a count in which individuals in the
assembly count their own votes.
A ROLL-CALL VOTE
-most accurate method of voting. When a roll-call vote is mandated by the
documents of the authority ordered by the assembly, the sec. calls out each
voting member by name; each member answers, “Aye,”’ No,”
or “Abstain.”
A BALLOT VOTE
-is a secret vote and is normally used in elections.
A MAIL VOTE
-is a useful voting method when it is inconvenient or costly for a group to
meet in assembly.
AN ELECTRONIC VOTE
-voting that uses electronic means to either aid to take care of casting and
counting votes. Also known as e-voting.
THE END