TalkBoard Elections/07 - Question 15: Simple Majority Votes

This question was submitted by member RichardInSF:
Should TalkBoard decisions be made by simple majority? Why or why not?

This question was submitted by member RichardInSF:
Should TalkBoard decisions be made by simple majority? Why or why not?

One vote one member, the highest votes win. Simple enough for everyone to understand.

I'm still in favor of the 2/3's majority vote that we presently use for passage of a motion.

A 2/3's majority vote means that, in nearly all cases, well over half of TB agrees on an issue. That majority insures that a motion doesn't just squeak by with the thinnest of margins.

First of all, let's remember that we are talking about a matter of one vote- five out of nine vs. six out of nine. Personally I am in favor of the 2/3 majority for a motion to pass. While "majority rules" votes are good for less important decisions, the TalkBoard deals with a lot of issues that can have a big impact on FlyerTalk's future. This means that a vote of one year's TalkBoard could easily be reversed by the TalkBoard the next year with just one person being "rotated" out. I feel that 2/3 makes the TalkBoard a more consistent, reliable, and sustainable board.

Just my opinion...:)

I agree with the current 2/3rd majority rule. For the same reasons as my esteemed fellow FTers, Cholula. and Lucky

I don't specifically have an issue with the current 2/3 format. However, I could see a format where a simple majority was needed to pass "normal business" issues, and any changes to TOS, guidelines, or the TalkBoard structure itself would require a super-majority.

Flyertalk being a pretty great place already, I think we should be pretty substantially sure and in agreement before making changes, and a 2/3rds majority helps bind us to that principle.

Flyertalk being a pretty great place already, I think we should be pretty substantially sure and in agreement before making changes, and a 2/3rds majority helps bind us to that principle.

I agree, but I would make sure it's 2/3 of the size of the body. In other words, regardless of the number of absent voters or abstentions, I would want 6 votes for any motion to pass.

Do we have a "dittomark" smiley?

I'm in favor of the 2/3rds majority. It ensures that a super-solid consensus exists before anything is changed, and remember, I'm a huge fan of not messing with what works.

Yeah, it's fine the way it is.

If you can't get 2/3 of a fully informed and nonpartisan board to agree on something, it might not be a very good idea. Leave it this way.

For an idea to be good for FlyerTalk, it should be a positive change for the majority of our members. A simple majority doesn't reflect that. I embrace the 2/3rds majority vote.

I support a 2/3 majority.

Both methods have pluses and minuses, but I think the 2/3 majority is fine.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

And I agree with RichMSN - it should be 2/3 of all TB and not just those voting on that specific issue!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

And I agree with RichMSN - it should be 2/3 of all TB and not just those voting on that specific issue!

I'm under the impression that something could pass 1-0 with 8 abstentions. Is that true? Could someone on the current TalkBoard respond?

If so, I would propose changing that immediately as a first order of business. It needs to be 6 votes, not just 2/3 of the votes received.

I'm under the impression that something could pass 1-0 with 8 abstentions. Is that true? Could someone on the current TalkBoard respond?

If so, I would propose changing that immediately as a first order of business. It needs to be 6 votes, not just 2/3 of the votes received.

I believe that's true. I also believe it could pass with 1 yes vote and 8 TB members not voting before the deadline.

But an abstention is actually considered a vote. And, for the record, I've never abstained from a vote.

Neither scenario above is likely to happen but any TB member is free to make a motion to change the voting rules at any time.

I agree, but I would make sure it's 2/3 of the size of the body. In other words, regardless of the number of absent voters or abstentions, I would want 6 votes for any motion to pass.

This actually used to be the rule, I'd have to check my notes but I believe it was changed in 2004.

The 2/3rds majority makes sense to me as well. That said, hypothetical scenarios of a motion passing with a single vote for and no other votes cast is indeed a bit ridiculous. I don't think such a scenario was anticipated at the time the voting system was developed.