Consensus within our community serving org questions on no-vote or abstaining and change of vote after the main vote:
Hello!
Nice to meet you. Thank you for all your free resources!!
My name is Clare and I am a staff member at a non-profit in Indianapolis, IN , USA. We focus on Peace Education, with content/programing focused on Equity learning, Social Emotional Learning and Conflict Resolution, as well as Restorative Practices.
www.peacelearningcenter.org
As an org we have been looking internally to include more equitable practices, and have been working to use consensus. We are creating a handbook to help connect consensus to our internal processes and have a few questions and concerns that have come up we cannot find answers to in on-line material.
Can you help?
One question is: What role could/should no vote/abstain play in a consensus decision? How may abstains can exist without jeopardizing the proposal voted on and the group collaboration needed? Under what circumstances are abstain votes allowed?
(We have used them when staff have not been involved in the conversation enough (only work as contractors , less then part time or just started their job the day of the vote, or when a staff member did not do research/gather enough info on the different proposals that they felt unsure on their understanding of what was being discussed and suggested to vote)
Another question: What happens if someone wants to change their decision after the official vote? Is there suggestions around time frame or times when allowed, or why or why not it should be allowed?
We had one such situation recently. After our proposal stages and discussion, we took an e-mail based vote. The decision was 3 stand asides, which took us back to the need to go back to discussion. When e-mails started to come up about the time frame for changes and participation, and how to move forward, one of that stand asides asked to change to approve. Thus, the proposal was passed, after the first vote. It happened within 24 hrs I believe. I am sure this kind of situation could pop up again.
Also, do you do training on consensus with staff groups in USA?
Thank you for any ideas or suggestions you may have!