Stephen Turner
Akash Kumar
Jordan Lee
Taylor Scott
What counts as a majority vote in a meeting?
Under Robert's Rules of Order, a majority vote means more than half of the votes cast. Abstentions don't count toward that total, and a tie fails. A two-thirds vote means at least two thirds, with no rounding down. Your bylaws can set a different basis, such as a majority of all members.
The short answer
A majority is more than half of the votes cast. Robert's Rules of Order warns against defining it as "50 percent plus one", because that breaks with an odd number of votes.
Say 17 votes are cast: 9 for and 8 against. Nine is more than half of 17, so the motion passes. Under "50 percent plus one" it would need 9½ votes, which is plainly wrong.
Count only the votes cast
Under the usual rule, the basis is the votes cast, not the people in the room. Members who stay silent or abstain don't change the result.
An abstention is a refusal to vote, so there is no such thing as an "abstention vote". Record how many abstained if your group wants that on file, but leave them out of the count.
When abstaining acts like a "no"
Some bylaws require a majority of the members present, or of the entire membership. Then an abstention has the same effect as a "no" vote, even though it still isn't a vote.
| Rule in your bylaws | Example: 12 members, 10 present, 6 for, 2 against, 2 abstain |
|---|---|
| Majority of votes cast | 8 votes cast, 6 for: passes |
| Majority of members present | Needs 6 of 10: passes, with no votes to spare |
| Majority of the entire membership | Needs 7 of 12: fails, even though most votes cast were in favor |
Two-thirds votes: no rounding
A two-thirds vote means at least two thirds of the votes cast. With 101 votes cast, 67 in favor is not enough, because two thirds of 101 is 67.33.
A quick check: the votes in favor must be at least double the votes against. With 34 against, you need 68 or more in favor.
Ties and the chair's vote
A tie is not more than half, so a motion that needs a majority fails on a tie.
The chair is not limited to breaking ties. On a small board or a committee, the chair can vote like any other member. In a larger assembly, the chair votes only by ballot or when that vote changes the result, such as breaking a tie or creating one.
Absent members and proxies
Under Robert's Rules, proxy voting isn't allowed in ordinary meetings unless a law that applies to your organization requires it, or your bylaws authorize it. If yours do, their wording sets how proxies work.
Record the count in the minutes
Write down the motion, the type of vote required and the result. For a counted vote, record the numbers for and against, so anyone can check the outcome later.
If you record meetings in Bridge, the notes list the decisions made, and the speaker-labeled transcript shows how each motion was worded. Check both against your secretary's count before you approve the minutes.
Sources & further reading
Keep readingWhat is a quorum in a meeting? →