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Voting at the GA 2025

At the heart of the FSC system is the democratic process of voting on motions. In order for a motion to pass there must be consensus between the three chambers: economic, social, and environmental. The balanced voting process differentiates the FSC system from other schemes.

Vote
Voting
Voting

During the Members’ Assembly each motion is usually discussed for about fifteen minutes. After the debate closes, members begin voting.  

For the General Assembly 2025, members attending both in-person and online will cast their votes electronically using the voting app. Members will have the possibility to vote at the time the motion is put to vote by the Presiding Officer and until it is announced that the voting period will close. Once a member casts their vote it cannot be changed.  

Once the electronically computed results show that there is a 66.66% overall majority of votes in favour of a motion (by members voting either in-person or virtually and either on their own behalf or through proxies), and a simple majority in every chamber of votes in favour of such motion (by members voting either in-person or virtually and either on their own behalf or through proxies), and a sufficient quorum overall and in each chamber, a motion is approved. If not, the motion fails. 

 

The FSC Statutes establish the below conditions on voting: 

  • The General Assembly shall strive to adopt decision by consensus. 

  • Consensus is defined as the absence of sustained opposition but does not require unanimity.  

 

In case of a vote, a decision is made when:  

  • A quorum of more than 50 per cent of the voting power of the members of each of the chambers referred to in FSC Statutes is present (either in-person, virtually or by proxy), and when; 

  • The affirmative vote of a simple majority of the voting power registered by members in good standing less votes abstaining in each chamber present at the time of the vote is reached, 

  • and when; the affirmative vote of two thirds of the voting power of all members in good standing present at the time of the vote less votes abstaining is reached and this constitutes the absence of sustained opposition.  

FAQs

  1. Who can vote?

    Only FSC International members in good standing are eligible to vote. If not, one can still observe the proceedings without voting or speaking. 

  2. How do I submit my vote?

    Voting will take place through the FSC Voting App, whether you are joining in-person or virtually. You can access the app on your laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Details on how to download and use the Voting app will be updated soon. 

  3. How will the voting process work?

    • Following the close of the debate of each motion, the Presiding Officer shall call for the vote. 

    • At that time, all members eligible shall be invited to vote according to the voting procedure described in the approved GA Rules of Procedure which you can find on the FSC Members’ Portal here. 

    • When a motion is put to vote, the Presiding Officer will invite members to vote to indicate support (for) or opposition (against) to a motion, or their abstention. 

    • The motion up for vote will be displayed on screen in English, Spanish and French. 

    • Members will have the possibility to vote at the time the motion is put to vote by the Presiding Officer and until it is announced that the voting period will close. Once a member cast his/her vote he/she cannot change it. 

    • Five minutes will be allowed in-between the announcement of motions opened for voting. This time will be for participants to prepare their voting App to get ready for voting. A limited number of laptops will also be available in the room for those Members’ who do not have a personal device or who may experience issues with using their own devices to vote. 

    • Once the five minutes are over, the next motion up for debate & voting will be announced and the process will be repeated until the end of the Members’ Assembly session of that day. 

  4. When will the voting results be announced?

    Once the voting period closes and quorum is reached, the Secretariat will gather and maintain evidence of the electronic votes and will determine, with the assent of the Electoral Committee if the motions are, or not, approved. 

    Motion voting results will be announced: 

    • At the end of the Members’ Assembly Session - For motions that reach quorum during the Members’ Assembly 

    • At the beginning of the Members’ Assembly Session - For motions where voting was extended from the previous day 

    • The results will be announced the following day, provided quorum is reached. 

  5. How does quorum and voting power work?

    Quorum: Is calculated on the number of votes cast. Therefore, you must vote For, Against, or Abstain. 

    A quorum is: 50% + 1 of the members in good standing of each chamber. 

    An Affirmative Vote is a vote of: A simple majority of each chamber who voted plus 2/3 of all members who voted. 

    Abstentions count towards Quorum, but not in the calculation of a ‘for’ or ‘against’ overall vote.