Originally Posted by
Efrem
According to Robert's Rules of Order, an abstention is a non-vote.
Thank you. That's why it's called
abstaining 
It does not count for any purpose. A vote of 1-0 with 99 abstentions, in a room of 100 people will pass a motion by majority vote or 2/3 vote.
Actually, in that situation you can legitimately claim that the vote in favor was unanimous.
...its rules are there because they have been shown over many years to work. Absent a good reason to be different, which I submit we don't have, we ought to follow them.
Well said.