Well we found out that the bylaw stating voting starts at 8:00 doesn't actually go into effect yet, it has to be voted on again. It was a provision. Anyway, the outgoing president did still write a memo stating voting would start at 8:15 and she started at 7:25 or 7:30, before she even started the meeting. We know she is at fault we contested the election, The executive board and the nominating committee held a meeting but she will never admit she did anything wrong. She cheated last year and won, and cheated for her friend this year,and won. She has the principal behind her, so there really is nothing we can do. We'll try again next year.
Yeah... RR really don't apply here as much as your by-laws do. But if it helps this is what I found....
Quote from page 280, 9th edition:
It is usually better to leave it to the chair to close the polls. When the vote is taken by ballot, as soon as the chair thinks all have voted who wish to, he inquires if all have voted. If there is no responce, he declares the polls closed and the tellers proceed to count the vote.
If a motion is made to close the polls when the voting has closed naturally, the chair can treat the motion as a unanimous-consent request, and declare the polls closed. In any cse, a formal motion to close the polls should not be recognized until all have presumably voted. Like motions relating to the close of debate or nominations, the motion to close the polls requires a two-thirds vote.
The time at which the polls shall be closed or reopened can be specified in the motion, or added by amendment.
#31. Motions Relating to Nominations
While an election is pending, a member may wish to offer a motion to determine the metod of making nominations (when it is not prescribed in the bylaws or rules of order). Members also may wish to offer motions to close or reopen nominations.
End of Quote.....
Hope that helps....it's a great little red book to have!
If the prez didn't follow the by-laws and she didn't stick to her guns about the memo I don't see how the election could be legitimate.
Are there other parents upset about this? I think I would get a group of parents and have a discussion with the executive board. The president included.
I forgot to mention, our bylaws state that voting is to start at 8:00 with nominations taken from from the floor then. So she didn't follow the bylaws with her first memo of 8:15. thank you Michelle
Check your constitution and/or by-laws. Most elections are to be held at normal monthly meetings. Do you normally have meetings at 8:15pm? Also, if the memo said a specific time, then hold the President Accountable (I know bad word). How many votes did you have for the elections? Did the number meet the quorum to pass a vote (again constitution/by-laws). Were the voters eligible to vote? i.e., active members, dues paying members, etc...
Hope this helps -- I don't have the Robert's Book on hand or I would refer to it.
could someone please help me out here. Our current PTO president sent out a memo saying voting would start at 8:15PM AND END at 9:00PM. Then she started the voting at 7:30, nominations were not taken from the floor till 8:15. Parents didn't come out to vote, because of the late time schedual, but would have come at 7:30. Is there anything about this in Roberts Rules?
