Whenever it is decided to vote on a proposition all that is
required is to ascertain how many of the members are in favour of it; if this
is a majority of those present, the motion is carried; if it is a minority, the
motion is defeated. Thus the whole question of "abstaining" does not
arise in Baha'i voting. A member who does not vote in favour of a proposition
is, in effect, voting against it, even if at that moment he himself feels that
he has been unable to make up his mind on the matter.
- The Universal House of
Justice (From a message dated 6 March 1970; ‘Messages from the Universal House
of Justice 1963-1986’)
