Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Maine

club voting

I belong to a club, members have elected to go over the bi-laws to update. Our club votes in a new member by a closed ballot box. white stones are yes, black are no, with 3 no stones the club must deny the applicant. All attending members go up on meeting night if they want to vote on this new member and you pick a stone and put it in the box. Pretty simple,and has worked for 45 years+. Now they want to keep the same as I just mentioned, but if 3 black stones are thrown, they now want to know who threw them and why and expect the members who said no to attend a special meeting for saying no ! Then the( new member committee) will decide if it was reasonable means to throw a black stone. If you dont come forward after throwing a black stone, meaning no, and attend the special meeting, then the denied person will automatically become a member. My question is.. is that legal to my rights ? Why bother to vote if it dont matter. Why vote at all ? Voting is private and my choice. Now if you dont like my choice I become the issue ? This club has many sideway rules, but is this legal to do ?


Asked on 5/17/09, 11:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elliott Teel Teel Law Office

Re: club voting

Since it is a private club, they can change the rules to be whatever they want. You can only require them to follow any requirements to change the rules - there may be something in the bylaws about that.

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Answered on 5/18/09, 8:30 am


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