As Mr. Hagan pointed out this would not apply to email ballots. Although I would note that RONR anticipates secret ballots, as an organization we disfavor them, and that is our choice and the chair should not be punished for that. However, the principle of maintaining the impartiality of a presiding officer is always paramount. * In Liberty,* * Personal Note: I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome (part of the autism spectrum). This can affect inter-personal communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas. If anyone found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social faux pas) in an actual email, please contact me privately and let me know. * On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 12:37 PM Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos@gmail.com> wrote:
Here are the applicable provisions:
Page 53 beginning on line 15
*Chair's Vote as Part of Announcement, Where it Affects the Vote*
If the presiding officer is a member of assembly or voting body, he has the same voting *right *as any other member. Except in a small board or committee however--unless that vote is secret (that is unless iti sb yballot) the chair protects his impartial position by exercising his voting right *ONLY *when his vote would affect the outcome, in which he CAN either vote and thereby change the result, or he can abstain.
Continuing to page 394, lines 24-29
If the presiding officer is *a *member of the society, he has -- as an individual --the same *right *in debate as any other member, but the impartiality required of the chair in an assembly *PRECLUDES *his exercising those rights while he is presiding.
Continuing to page 405, lines 20-24
If the presiding officer is a member of the assembly, he can vote as any other member *WHEN *the vote is by ballot. In all other cases the presiding officer, if a member of the assembly, *CAN *(but is not obligated to) whenever his vote will affect the result -- that is, he can vote to there break or cause a tie...
Continuing to page 421, lines 421-423
The roll is called in alphabetical order except that the presiding's officer's name is called last, *and only when his vote will affect the results*.
* In Liberty,* * Personal Note: I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome (part of the autism spectrum). This can affect inter-personal communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas. If anyone found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social faux pas) in an actual email, please contact me privately and let me know. *