method is only adopted when required by the constitution or by-laws of the assembly, or when the assembly has ordered the vote to be so taken. The Chairman, in such cases, appoints at least two tellers, who distribute slips of paper, upon which each member, including the Chairman,[1] writes his vote. The votes are then collected, counted by the tellers, and the result reported to the Chairman, who announces it to the assembly. The Chairman announces the result of the vote, in case of an election to office, in a manner similar to the following: “The whole number of votes cast is —; the number necessary for an election is —; Mr. A received —; Mr. B, —; Mr. C, —. Mr. B, having received the required number, is elected —.” Where there is only one candidate for an office, and the constitution requires the vote to be by ballot, it is common to authorize the clerk to cast the vote of the assembly for such and such a person; if anyone objects, however, it is necessary to ballot in the usual way. So, when a motion is made to make a vote unanimous, it fails if anyone objects. In counting the ballots all blanks are ignored.
- ↑ Should the Chairman neglect to vote before the ballots are counted, he cannot then vote without the permission of the assembly.
