How to Vote Counter the RDG Way

1. What is the Vote Counter?

The vote counter is a pretty self-explanatory role, though it doesn't exist in every club. If your club has awards at the end of the meeting, you will need this role to count up votes to determine winners. Awards are typically given out for the best prepared speech, Table Topics response, and best evaluation based on the consensus of the present members and guests, the vote counter has the responsibility of counting and reporting the results of the voting process. If there is a tie, they cast a tie breaking vote.

As a vote counter, you'll work on meeting logistics skills.

2. Performing the Role

Before the Meeting

The only pre-meeting prep work for the vote counter is to make sure there are voting ballots available. You will also want to make sure there are awards (ribbons or otherwise) available. This is usually handled by the Sergeant-at-Arms, but having another check helps.

At the Meeting

When called upon by the Toastmaster at the beginning of the meeting, stand and give a brief description of your duties. Ensure that guests know they may vote.

At the end of each section, the member in control (Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, or General Evaluator) will call for a vote (provided more than one contestant qualified). Make sure that the timer has given their report first so that if there are any disqualifications due to time, they will not be voted on. You will need to collect all ballots and tabulate them. As vote counter you do not vote for any category unless there is a tie. If there is a tie, you cast the deciding vote.

Near the end of the meeting, hand off a note to the Toastmaster with the winners. Don’t reveal how many votes each person received.

3. Suggestions

• If there aren't enough members present to have a dedicated vote counter, assign vote counting for speeches to the Toastmaster, vote counting for Table Topics to the Table Topics Master, and evaluator votes to the General Evaluator. Alternatively, assign vote counter responsibilities to the timer. Have your club decide how this will work.
  
• Your club may have extra voting such as "Most Enthusiastic"; just make sure to explain these in your role explanation so everyone knows to expect it.
• Consider adding a "fun" voting category at your meeting (just make sure it's appropriate and positive). Make sure you include it in your role explanation. Examples: "Most alliterative", "Most clever use of the word of the day", "Most eyeroll inducing pun", etc.
• As with other roles, if there is a meeting theme, you can adjust your role's explanation to fit.
• Depending on your club, you may need to provide or make sure there are ballots. The resources section has some forms you can use if you don't purchase forms from TI. Usually this should be handled by your Sergeant at Arms.