Short answer: No. An abstention does not count toward the vote total. The member’s attendance counts toward quorum, but their abstention is not included in the number of votes cast “for” or “against” the motion.

This is exactly how FMCA’s Constitution expects votes to be counted.

Clear constitutional reasoning

1. FMCA decisions are made by “a majority vote of those present and entitled to vote”

Rule 34:

“All matters before a meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority vote of those present and entitled to vote…”

This means:

• Only actual votes cast count toward the majority.

• Abstentions are not votes.

• Abstaining members are “present and entitled to vote,” but they did not vote, so they are not included in the majority calculation.

This is standard parliamentary procedure.

2. Abstentions affect quorum, not the vote count

Rule 33 defines quorum. Attendance matters for quorum. Voting matters for majority.

A member who abstains:

• Is present → counts toward quorum

• Does not vote → does not count toward the vote total

3. Majority is calculated only from votes cast

Example: If 20 Council members are present, and 5 abstain:

• Votes cast = 15

• Majority = 8

• Abstentions do not increase the number required for a majority.

Executive Briefing: FMCA Vote‑Counting Rules

For FMCA Executive — authoritative, structured, and fully aligned with the Constitution (Rules 33–34)

Key takeaway: FMCA decisions are determined by a majority of votes cast, not by the number of people present. Abstentions do not count toward the vote total. Attendance affects quorum, not the vote count.

This briefing gives the Executive a unified, constitutionally correct position for handling vote‑counting questions at Council meetings and the AGM.

🟦 1. What the Constitution Actually Requires

Rule 34 — Majority of votes cast

“All matters before a meeting of the Council shall be decided by a majority vote of those present and entitled to vote…”

Interpretation:

• Only votes cast (“for” or “against”) count.

• Abstentions are not votes.

• Majority = more than half of the votes cast, not more than half of the people present.

Rule 33 — Quorum

Attendance determines whether the meeting can proceed. It does not determine the vote total.

🟦 2. How Votes Are Counted (Executive Standard)

Step 1 — Confirm quorum

Count all Council members present (including abstainers and deputies).

Step 2 — Count votes cast

Count only:

• Votes for

• Votes against

Step 3 — Ignore abstentions

Abstentions:

• Do not increase the number required for a majority

• Do not count as votes

• Do not block motions

Step 4 — Determine majority

Example: 20 present, 5 abstain → 15 votes cast → majority = 8.

🟦 3. What Council Members Can and Cannot Do

Council members CAN:

• Vote “for”

• Vote “against”

• Abstain

• Ask for clarification before voting

Council members CANNOT:

• Demand that abstentions be counted as votes

• Insist that majority be calculated from total attendance

• Block a motion by abstaining

• Require additional reports before a vote (unless due notice was given under Rule 35(e))

This protects FMCA from procedural manipulation.

🟦 4. Executive Unified Position (Use This Consistently)

• FMCA counts only votes cast.

• Abstentions affect quorum, not the vote total.

• Majority is based on votes cast, not attendance.

• The Chair rules immediately on vote outcomes — no debate.

• Any challenge must be resolved by quoting Rule 34.

🟦 5. Assertive Script for the Chair (Use During Meetings)

Chair : Under Rule 34, decisions are made by a majority of votes cast. Abstentions are not votes and are not included in the total. We will therefore count only the votes cast “for” and “against” and determine the majority from that number.

If challenged:

Chair: The Constitution is explicit. Majority is calculated from votes cast, not from the number of people present. Abstentions do not affect the vote total. We will now proceed.

🟦 6. Executive Talking Points (For Consistency Across the Team)

• “Abstentions count for quorum, not for voting.”

• “Majority is based on votes cast.”

• “The Constitution does not allow abstentions to block motions.”

• “Vote‑counting rules cannot be changed without a Rule 59 amendment.”

• “The Chair’s ruling on vote totals is final.”

🟦 7. Recommended Pre‑Meeting Executive Alignment

Before each Council meeting or AGM, the Executive should agree on:

• A single interpretation of Rule 34

• A consistent explanation of abstentions

• A unified response to challenges

• A commitment to support the Chair’s ruling immediately

This prevents confusion, dissent, or procedural disruption.