Quorum and Vote Calculator
Check quorum and a vote result. Pick your rules, enter the numbers, and copy a sentence for your minutes.
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For your minutes
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This calculator is general information, not legal advice. Your bylaws and state law set the quorum and vote rules. Check them before you rely on a result.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the seats on your board and the number of vacancies.
- Pick the quorum rule from your bylaws. Enter the members present.
- Pick the vote the motion needs. Enter the votes for, against, and abstaining.
- Select Check result. Copy the sentence into your minutes.
If you do not know your rules, read the quorum and voting sections of your bylaws. State law may set a default when the bylaws are silent.
A worked example
A board has 7 seats and no vacancies. The bylaws set quorum at a majority of seats. A majority is more than half, so the quorum is 4. Five directors attend, so a quorum is present.
The motion needs a majority of votes cast. The count is 4 for, 1 against, and 0 abstaining. Four is more than one, so the motion carries. The calculator writes: "A quorum was present (5 of 7 directors). The motion carried, 4 in favor, 1 opposed, 0 abstaining."
Common questions
Do abstentions count?
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised bases a majority vote on the votes cast. An abstention is not a vote cast. For "majority of votes cast" and "two-thirds of votes cast", this calculator leaves abstentions out. Abstaining members still count as present for quorum.
What if there are vacancies?
A vacancy is a seat with no member. Some bylaws count quorum from all seats. Others count it from the members in office. Pick the rule that matches your bylaws. The calculator also checks that the members present are not more than the members in office.
What is a two-thirds vote?
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised sets a two-thirds vote as at least two-thirds of the votes cast. That means the votes for are at least twice the votes against. With 6 for and 3 against, the motion passes. With 5 for and 3 against, it fails, because 5 is less than 6.
What does majority of the full board mean?
Some bylaws need a majority of all seats, not of the votes cast. This calculator counts from the total seats, vacancies included. Some bylaws count from the members in office instead. Bylaws differ, so check yours. With this rule, an abstention works like a vote against.
How does a custom fraction work?
A custom fraction passes when the votes for reach at least that fraction of votes cast. So 1/2 passes on a tie. A majority means more than half.
Can members vote by proxy?
The calculator counts only members present. Proxy votes are out of scope unless your bylaws allow them. Robert's Rules of Order does not allow proxy voting unless the bylaws do.
How does a percentage quorum round?
The calculator rounds up. A 40 percent quorum of 7 members is 2.8, so the quorum is 3.
What if there is no quorum?
Without a quorum, the meeting cannot take valid votes. The calculator shows no vote result in that case.
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