The voting procedure we use is called consensus/consensus minus one.  This means that when a proposal for action comes to membership, all members must vote in support of it except for one person, in order for it to pass.   

Our ways of voting include: 

Full Support: Used when the voting member completely supports the proposal. This is an approval vote.

Reservations: Used when the voting member is mostly in support of the proposal, but thinks there could be some improvements. This is an approval vote. Stated reservations will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

Stand Aside: Used when the voting member has serious concerns with the proposal or has a conflict of interest regarding the proposal, but does not want to stop others from going ahead with it. This is an approval vote. Stated reasons for standing aside will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

Dissent: Used when the voting member thinks that passing the proposal would be detrimental to the business. This is not an approval vote.  Stated reasons for dissenting will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

Proxy: Members who are not present may cast a written vote prior to the member meeting only for BOD elections. All proposed decisions will honor the right of non-present members and trial members to be heard with a written statement and their non-binding vote read aloud during discussion. These proxies are not counted as part of quorum or as an official vote.

If there are members who are uncomfortable with a proposal, they have a couple of opportunities to voice their opinions.  They may speak up during the Q & A session or go-around (where we go around in a circle and everyone has a chance to speak) that follows the reading of the proposal, or after the vote in order to defend their position. 

If only one member is uncomfortable passing a proposal, the proposal will still pass.  If several members are uncomfortable passing a proposal and dissent, the proposal will not pass.  Instead of killing the proposal, the authors of it must meet with the dissenters to figure out a way to make the proposal make everyone happy.  Of course, if the dissenters cannot be made happy, the proposal will probably die.

We use the consensus decision making process in order to empower decision making members, deepen our commitment to each other through thoroughly dealing with all concerns, encourage compromise and collaboration, and strengthen cooperative culture.

For more information, please check out On Conflict and Consensus: A Guide To Formal Consensus & Wikipedia's "Consensus Decision-Making"