Subcommittee discusses Zoom voting, paper ballots and floor nominations ahead of Sept. 30 delegation vote

During the Sept. 12 subcommittee meeting, members spent substantial time on voting logistics for the full-delegation appointment vote scheduled for Sept. 30. The group discussed whether to use paper ballots, conduct a roll-call vote, and how to treat members attending by Zoom.

Tom, who said he has followed the issue for years, recommended checking with the county attorney about Zoom voting and described prior practice: "If I'm on Zoom for example and I want to vote ... if the Zoom goes down you have to postpone the vote," he said, noting the group had previously approved Zoom use in January and followed state regulations on remote participation.

Members discussed options if a remote connection is lost — whether a vote should be postponed or the member be temporarily unable to vote — and how Zoom participation can trigger a roll-call procedure. The chair said the subcommittee prefers in-person attendance for the delegation vote but will allow Zoom when permitted under law, and that roll-call voting would be used for what the chair described as "a pretty big vote."

The committee also debated the prospect of nominations from the floor at the delegation meeting. Several members said they had never seen a floor nomination used for this kind of county post and favored short pre-meeting caucuses (Republican and Democratic) to put forward nominees; they asked caucus leaders to discourage disruptive floor nominations but agreed the attorney should confirm the legal options.

The subcommittee adjourned after agreeing to forward minutes and materials to the full delegation and to seek counsel on unresolved procedural questions.