# What voting methods/procedures are usual at club AGMs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2006, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207 "2006-05-10T09:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/1 "2006-05-10T09:16:34Z")
We have an AGM coming up for our association of 32 members, each of whom may vote, either in person or by proxy. Three people are standing as Chairman. Quorum won’t be a problem. What is the normal procedure regarding obtaining a winner. For example, it’s possible that no one will get an overall majority of the votes cast. Now, I would assume, given that the provision of proxy votes reduces flexibility, in terms of those people not being present to vote in a second round, that a first past the post solution would operate. Is that the norm? Experience (and theory), please. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/2 "2006-05-10T14:43:21Z")
The answer should be found in your association’s by-laws, regarding whether one is elected based upon plurality or majority. Robert’s Rules of Order refers to both arrangements. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/3 "2006-05-10T16:04:36Z")
What is a “club AGM”? ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/4 "2006-05-10T16:09:29Z")
Annual General Meeting ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/5 "2006-05-11T03:08:06Z")
Grateful for all the responses. Since we are allowing Proxies and we instant runoff voting is not prvided for in our Constitution, it looks likely that a plurality shall elect. One further question: what normally happens in the event of a 2- or 3-way tie in votes? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/6 "2006-05-11T05:27:39Z")
Ties result in revotes, with proxies being cast again. Should a candidate receive a lesser number of votes than others, they would be dropped from the slate and a revote taken, admitting those proxies who favored active candidates. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-voting-methods-procedures-are-usual-at-club-agms/356207/7 "2006-05-11T06:20:47Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Ties result in revotes, with proxies being cast again. Should a candidate receive a lesser number of votes than others, they would be dropped from the slate and a revote taken, admitting those proxies who favored active candidates. Thank you, sir. One last question. Procedurally, what would happen in the admittedly unlikely scenario of a Chairman being voted in, and then two or three of the Principal Officers and Deputy Principal Officers resigned on the spot, having juts been voted in themselves? Call for nominations after meeting and go through the process again for the concerned posts?