Abstentions and Recusals: How do they count toward the vote tally and quorum?

If a town council has 5 members, and 2 vote yes and 3 abstain or recuse, did the motion pass?  Was there a quorum for the purposes of the vote?  Is an abstention considered a yes vote, a no vote, or neither?  These are common questions.  Current guidance is murky, however, and calls for legislation. Bill A2896 would clarify the issues but has seen little activity, with only a few months left in the legislative session. A2896 states that an abstention is not counted as either a yes vote or no vote but that the member abstaining adds to the quorum while a member who recuses does not.

Well-known transparency advocate John Paff wrote an interesting post on this topic, below. He points out that the issue is not just whether a member abstains or recuses from a vote, but whether that member should have recused in lieu of abstaining.  How should an abstention be treated if the existence of a conflict called for the member’s recusal instead?

 

NJ Open Government Notes
Is a quorum of a municipal governing body present when a majority of the body’s members are recused, conflicted or choose not to vote?
by John Paff
Oct. 6, 2017

 

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In this case, two Bridgeton councilmen with seemingly significant conflicts failed to recuse from two votes on a City land sale. The motion passed but would have failed had the men recused. The 2nd vote was a last-minute unannounced agenda item after a dissenting council member had left the meeting. Had the two men recused, assuming that those who recuse don’t count toward the quorum, there would not have been a quorum for the second vote.

FYI, OPMA reform bill S1045 would prevent last-minute agenda additions except in emergency situations. Support reform!

 

NJ Open Government Notes
Judge: Conflict of interest lawsuit against two Bridgeton council members shall move forward.
by John Paff
Oct. 23, 2017