When it is a matter of remote voting by board members the most fundamental rule is that any decision that is ratified by a majority vote of all participants in any meeting, whether special or regular (and with the exception of abstentions) is valid. This is the case in the event that a statute, administrative code or by-law, board policy or board policy states that it is not.
If your board has specific procedures for remote voting, you must review it and make sure it is being followed. If you decide to allow remote voting, you must also ensure that the quorum is in place, and that the software for managing your board permits a safe, accurate and transparent vote.
In the past, when a board votes to accept a motion they would orally use ballots sent out in advance or record the results on a roll call. With the advancement of technology and the necessity to hold meetings remotely, it is normal to use a digital voting system that allows members to make what is corporate information technology their decisions quickly. The MeetingPulse platform, for example allows members to vote online and can be accessed from any device that is connected to the internet. It’s also easy to use and offers enterprise-level security.
Whichever method you choose the best way to ensure that board members are at ease about their decisions is to entice them actively to participate during discussions. This will boost engagement and ensure that the voices of all are heard, which reduces the chance that a single member will contest the end result.
