When Can The President Vote?

Q: If there are no restrictions stated in a organization's constitution, is it unconstitutional for a president to vote during elections if he/she is presiding over the election?


The rules here are simple. The presiding officer has the right to vote as any member, however, he/she should refrain from voting as much as possible in order to maintain a sense of impartiality before the assembly. There are three cases when the presiding officer can vote:

1. A ballot vote
The results are secret and the presiding officer does not lose impartiality by voting.

2. A roll call vote
All votes are recorded in the minutes and the presiding officer's vote is recorded just as the other members.

3. Making or breaking a tie
If a tie exists, the motion or election will be lost. The presiding officer can vote "yes" to break a tie, if he has not already voted (cannot vote twice). If a vote is one more in the affirmative, the presiding officer can vote "no" to make a tie and defeat the motion or election.

It is recommended that elections be conducted by ballot. This enables the presiding officer to secretly cast his vote. Otherwise, the presiding officer might be placed in the unenviable position of voting to make or break a tie in an election -- the effect of which will be taken personally by the candidates and may set up the winners of the election with little confidence from the assembly as they begin their term.