Email Voting For Board Decisions

For many non-profit organizations, email voting for board decisions offers a convenient alternative to meeting in person. Volunteers who aren’t able to travel to a conference can still participate via email. It also eliminates the need for plane or train tickets as well as gas, lodging, and business lunches.

The use of email voting isn’t ideal for boards because of a variety of issues. The use of email for voting doesn’t permit board members to communicate simultaneously, which is necessary for an effective vote. Additionally, emails could be susceptible to hacking and spoofing. In addition, a lack of clarity could cause issues with third parties who rely on the validity of board decisions (such as banks or lawyers).

The Center for Nonprofits has heard from many organizations during the COVID-19 epidemic that they were surprised to learn that their bylaws did not allow them to use email to obtain unanimous written consent votes. The majority of state laws that govern the activities of nonprofits do not explicitly refer to this technology. Instead they rely on general rules for taking action without a formal meeting like unanimity in writing.

If a board of a non-profit organization wants to make major decisions outside of the meeting, it has browse around here to be approved by all directors. This can be accomplished by having a written procedure that requires all directors to take a response in writing, either via email or fax. Then, the whole vote must be confirmed at the next board meeting and recorded in the minutes.