# \[JR\] What counts as a vote? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Conclave\ **Created:** [November 15, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/jr-what-counts-as-a-vote/19500 "2025-11-15T00:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McStooley](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/user_avatar/forum.theeastpacific.com/mcstooley/32/6_2.png) [@McStooley](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/u/McStooley)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/jr-what-counts-as-a-vote/19500/1 "2025-11-15T00:41:55Z")
Good day, I respectfully request a judicial review concerning the voting requirements applicable to the Praesidium. As outlined in the Praesidium’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), its voting structure differs from that of the Magisterium. The relevant provisions of the Praesidium SOP are as follows: > > > **5.4** All Viziers who do not cast a vote shall be considered “absent” and shall not be counted as voting Viziers for that particular vote. > > > **5.5** For a measure to pass, at least three-fourths (3/4) of the voting Viziers must vote in favor of the matter. > > > **5.6** Viziers shall never be required to cast a vote in any matter, including elections, amendments, or general votes. Under these provisions, Viziers are explicitly not required to vote. When they do cast a vote, passage of a measure requires the affirmative support of three-fourths of those participating. The exceptions are Delegate removal votes and Proscription votes, the latter of which was recently amended in the Concordant to require a two-thirds (2/3) threshold. This request for review seeks clarification on the definition and scope of the term _voting Vizier_. Specifically, if a Vizier casts a ballot marked “Aye,” “Nay,” or “Abstain/Present,” does the submission of an Abstain/Present ballot constitute participation such that the Vizier must be included in the total number of voting Viziers for purposes of calculating the required three-fourths or two-thirds majority? It is noted that, pursuant to §5.4, a Vizier who abstains or registers “Present” is not considered absent. Accordingly, clarification is requested as to whether an Abstain/Present ballot is treated as a cast vote for denominator-calculation purposes. Additionally, unlike the Magisterium, Praesidium procedures do not use Abstain/Present ballots in the determination of quorum, nor do the Praesidium rules specify that such ballots are to be excluded from the vote count. Thank you for your time and consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/user_avatar/forum.theeastpacific.com/shadow/32/15155_2.png) [@Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/u/Shadow)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/jr-what-counts-as-a-vote/19500/2 "2025-11-16T02:10:08Z")
The matter has been received. By procedure, the Conclave is voting to accept or reject the petition ---
**Author:** ![Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/user_avatar/forum.theeastpacific.com/shadow/32/15155_2.png) [@Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/u/Shadow)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/jr-what-counts-as-a-vote/19500/3 "2025-11-17T02:10:37Z")
By unanimous consent, the Conclave has voted to ACCEPT the request. Discussion is underway ---
**Author:** ![Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/user_avatar/forum.theeastpacific.com/shadow/32/15155_2.png) [@Shadow](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/u/Shadow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/t/jr-what-counts-as-a-vote/19500/4 "2026-02-13T04:49:48Z")
> [@What Counts as a Vote - Verdict](#): > > ![4480_9db813e7c00643a2e774e6178ae6924f](https://forum.theeastpacific.com/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2e248bef77b5b70eff705247cd80dc826bef13e0.png) > The Conclave at Large, by majority decision, issues the following ruling on “What Counts As A Vote”: > > With the Standing Orders of the Praesidium (herein defined as SOP) being unclear as to what an “Abstain” is in terms of voting, the Conclave must first turn to the Concordat as that is the basis of all reviews. Upon reviewing the Concordat, it does not stipulate the value of an “Abstain” vote. > > What the Conclave does have to work off of is SOP Section 5.4-6 which reads: > > > [@](#): > > > > …5.4. All Viziers who do not vote will be considered “absent” and will not be considered as a voting Vizier in that particular vote. > > > > …5.5. For a vote to pass, a majority of 3/4 of voting Viziers need to be in favor on the voting matter. > > > > …5.6. Viziers will never be required to cast a vote in any voting matter, whether it be an election, amendment, or general vote. > > The SOP does not require Viziers to vote at all on any measures (5.6), which assists in the calculation for a majority. Additionally, the Conclave can reasonably conclude that if a Vizier votes Abstain, a vote of Abstain is equal to that of not voting. In other words, **The Conclave interprets votes of Abstains as neither in favor or against a measure and are not to be used to determine if a measure passes or fails.** A measure must pass/fail on the merit of votes casted in favor/against.