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Can a Special Meeting be Called to Vote Only? |
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QUESTION:
A meeting has been called to vote on a specific item that was detailed in the notice of the special meeting. Can they limit the meeting to just the vote and not allow discussion?
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ANSWER:
No, a meeting cannot be limited to voting only, without allowing an opportunity for discussion on any motion placed before the assembly. Members of the assembly have a right to debate any main motion placed before it. The chair should say, "Is there any discussion on the motion just read?" If nobody seeks the floor to debate, or no member objects when the chair attempts to put the question to a vote without debate, then essentially the members have given their unanimous consent to proceed with the vote.
Refer to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), 10th edition, pp. 374-375:
"It should be noted that, under legitimate parliamentary procedure, there is no such thing as 'gaveling through' a measure. The right of members to debate or introduce secondary motions cannot be cut off by the chair's attempting to put a question to vote so quickly that no member can get the floor - either when the chair first states the question or when he believes debate is ended. Debate is not closed by the presiding officer's rising to put the question. If a vote has been taken or begun quickly and it is found that a member rose and addressed the chair with reasonable promptness after the chair asked, 'Are you ready for the question?' or, by a pause or otherwise, indicated that the floor was open to assignment, then - even if the chair has announced the result of such a vote - the vote must be disregarded, the member is entitled to the floor, and debate begins or resumes."
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