Difference between revisions of "Town Meeting:Voting at Town Meeting"
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All subsidiary motions and most main motions require a simple majority vote for passage, but certain articles require more. For example, to authorize the Town to take land by eminent domain, change the zoning bylaw, or authorize a bond issue requires a two-thirds vote. | All subsidiary motions and most main motions require a simple majority vote for passage, but certain articles require more. For example, to authorize the Town to take land by eminent domain, change the zoning bylaw, or authorize a bond issue requires a two-thirds vote. | ||
In 2014 the Town acquired an electronic vote recording system and adopted a set of operating rules for its use. Modifications to these rules may be suggested by the moderator but must be ratified by two-thirds vote of Town Meeting. | |||
At check-in, each Town Meeting Member is issued a numbered, labeled hand-held device and will use that same device for the duration of Town Meeting. However, a Town Meeting member may report any malfunction by rising to a point of personal privilege, and will be issued a replacement device if necessary. Votes may be taken electronically at the discretion of the Moderator or at the request of 20 Members who rise for the purpose. In practice, voice votes are used for procedural motions such as receiving reports, adjournment, taking articles out of order, and calling the question; electronic votes are used for warrant articles and amendments. In either case, Town Meeting Members must vote from their seats, either with their precinct or their board or committee. | |||
When an electronic vote is called for, a “countdown clock” is displayed on the projection screen, and Town Meeting Members must vote during the indicated voting period by pressing “1” for “YES”, “2” for “NO” and “3” for “ABSTAIN”. At the end of the voting period, the projection screen will display, by precinct, in alphabetical order, the vote cast by each member. Members can thus verify that their votes registered correctly, and issue challenges if either their vote appears incorrect or if it appears that someone voted who is not present. The recorded votes of each Town Meeting session will be published on the Town’s website within 24 hours. | |||
At the end of each session of Town Meeting, members MUST return their devices to the designated checkers. Under no circumstances may members leave their devices out of their presence, or use a device other than their own. | |||
While the by-laws will still provide for standing votes and roll-call votes, it is expected that unless significant problems develop with the electronic system, those methods will be functionally replaced by electronic vote recording. | |||
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Revision as of 15:09, 13 May 2014
The quorum for transaction of Town Meeting business is 100 members. The presence of a quorum is assumed, and all votes are valid unless a member rises to doubt the quorum before the results of the vote on a motion have been declared and a count shows that fewer than 100 members are present.
All subsidiary motions and most main motions require a simple majority vote for passage, but certain articles require more. For example, to authorize the Town to take land by eminent domain, change the zoning bylaw, or authorize a bond issue requires a two-thirds vote.
In 2014 the Town acquired an electronic vote recording system and adopted a set of operating rules for its use. Modifications to these rules may be suggested by the moderator but must be ratified by two-thirds vote of Town Meeting.
At check-in, each Town Meeting Member is issued a numbered, labeled hand-held device and will use that same device for the duration of Town Meeting. However, a Town Meeting member may report any malfunction by rising to a point of personal privilege, and will be issued a replacement device if necessary. Votes may be taken electronically at the discretion of the Moderator or at the request of 20 Members who rise for the purpose. In practice, voice votes are used for procedural motions such as receiving reports, adjournment, taking articles out of order, and calling the question; electronic votes are used for warrant articles and amendments. In either case, Town Meeting Members must vote from their seats, either with their precinct or their board or committee.
When an electronic vote is called for, a “countdown clock” is displayed on the projection screen, and Town Meeting Members must vote during the indicated voting period by pressing “1” for “YES”, “2” for “NO” and “3” for “ABSTAIN”. At the end of the voting period, the projection screen will display, by precinct, in alphabetical order, the vote cast by each member. Members can thus verify that their votes registered correctly, and issue challenges if either their vote appears incorrect or if it appears that someone voted who is not present. The recorded votes of each Town Meeting session will be published on the Town’s website within 24 hours.
At the end of each session of Town Meeting, members MUST return their devices to the designated checkers. Under no circumstances may members leave their devices out of their presence, or use a device other than their own.
While the by-laws will still provide for standing votes and roll-call votes, it is expected that unless significant problems develop with the electronic system, those methods will be functionally replaced by electronic vote recording.