Re: [802SEC] Do Abstains Count in the Denominator
Steve,
I've been silent on this because I haven't had time to get involved.
It's the weekend now and I will take some time look at this. But this
one looks real sticky. The one thing I have not called into play is
that at one point, Paul made a formal interpretation of this rule
because we couldn't decide of a P&P revision passed or not. I can't
recall when that was, but we should review it as well to see if it would
be relvant.
Mat
Matthew Sherman, Ph.D.
Senior Member Technical Staff
BAE SYSTEMS, CNIR
Office: +1 973.633.6344
email: matthew.sherman@baesystems.com
-----Original Message-----
From: ***** IEEE 802 Executive Committee List *****
[mailto:STDS-802-SEC@ieee.org] On Behalf Of Shellhammer, Steve
Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 8:35 PM
To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
Subject: [802SEC] Do Abstains Count in the Denominator
802 EC,
These rules discussions are so much fun. :-)
There seems to be confusion about whether Abstains count in
the denominator when a vote is held. In other words if someone abstains
did they vote?
So I thought I would look at Robert's Rules. Here is a
quote from Robert's Rules on what it means to abstain.
'To "abstain" means not to vote at all, and a member who
makes no response if "abstentions" are called for abstains just as much
as one who responds to that effect (see also p. 394).'
Based on Robert's Rules an "abstain" is not considered a
vote and is not counted in the denominator.
Clearly if we start to count Abstains in the denominator it will not
only change the meaning of a super majority but also of majority. For
example, a vote of 10 yes, 4 No and 10 abstains would not count as a
majority if we start to include abstains in the denominator.
Of course there are rules that explicitly set the
denominator as "all members" and it that case the denominator is those
that vote yes, those that vote no those that abstain, those who do not
answer, those who are not in the room, those who did not attend the
meeting.
So unless the rule states that the denominator is "all
members" then the denominator is the sum of those who vote yes and those
who vote no. This is of course my humble opinion.
Regards,
Steve
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