I don't think absentions ought to count towards a quorum.

But the abstentions indicate that at least a certain number of people paid attention to the fact that there was a vote and discussion going on. That's what the quorum is designed to establish, isn't it?

However, we may need to change majority to plurality if lots of abstentions become the norm.

But the abstentions indicate that at least a certain number of people paid attention to the fact that there was a vote and discussion going on. That's what the quorum is designed to establish, isn't it.

But what exactly... oh, no, I get it. Yes. As long as an abstention means "I don't like either of the choices and want to talk more about a third choice, or develop a third choice," and not, "I don't know what to do but I want to register that I'm here, damn it", that does make sense. Agreed.

I think the abstentions will only be this high on this ballot, since there are several issues at once. I'd say that we wait to see what the numbers look like for this one, and if the abstentions do make a difference, we figure out what to do about it then. Otherwise, how to count abstentions sill be one of the things to decide later.

Oh, I totally think abstentions count towards a quorum.

I'm having a hard time imagining a topic where you'd get quite that many abstentions, though. I'm not sure what the point of abstaining becomes, then--if it changes the % becuase so many abstained, and the vote doesn't pass, isn't that like voting no? I don't get it.

In the literal real-world sense of Quorum, it means "people gathered in one place who can witness the events", surely?

So when my student union had its meetings, they weren't able to pass decisions unless there were sufficient numbers present. (Hence Dave whatshisname coming to drag us out of the Falmer bar for crucial votes).

But nobody's actually present here. And we can't require people to be even virtually present at the same time, though we can witness the goings on at our own convenience. So what we're really talking about is "voter turnout" isn't it?

Abstentions can also indicate "I don't care about the outcome of this vote," or "either way is fine by me." A host of things, really. Hil's on the right track, I think - it may not be an issue past this vote. But I'm beginning to see that we do need to discuss how to count them, and when to offer abstention as a voting choice anyway.

(John, there's a typo in that tag.

I saw this in a movie about a bus that had to speed around a city, keeping its speed over fifty, and if it's speed dropped, it would explode! I think it was called "The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down".

It's/its. Correct yr database.)

Oh, I totally think abstentions count towards a quorum.

Right. They voted and participated, so that constitutes the quorum.

But the abstentions don't count in determining the percentage that establishes the majority (according to Sophia's cites).

abstentions count towards a quorum

I agree. I didn't vote in most of those student things, but I was there, and I did pay attention, and I had the opportunity to say "hey! not with my contribution you don't!". I was part of the Quorum.

In that real-life case, you can simply count the people there. Five hundred people had a chance to vote, two-hundred-odd actually bothered.

But you can't count people as present in an online situation unless they've voted: either yes or no or "I don't care".

So abstentions will be really important. If all eight hundred Buffistas turn up to the vote thread and 750 just go away again without voting, how will we know we had quoracy?

If all eight hundred Buffistas turn up to the vote thread and 750 just go away again without voting, how will we know we had quoracy?

I don't see any reason we can't continue like we're doing now -- submit your abstention.