Reviews of votes: twelve situations
Status of the material. This is a study aid of the club, not an official rulebook. The rules and the references to clauses were checked against the web version of the rules that is available, but there is no full clause-by-clause comparison. Before a game the club announces which rulebook and which edition it plays by. If they differ, the official rulebook takes priority.
Twelve typical situations in voting and the answer under the RFM 2026 rules. The clause numbers are given as in the aid; check them against the current text.
How to practise. The referee gives the commands, an assistant writes down the votes and an observer notes how accurate the procedure was.
Case 1. One candidate on the first day
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.11 no vote is held. The referee announces the move to the next phase.
Case 2. One candidate on the second day
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.11 the vote is held; the expected result does not replace the procedure.
Case 3. Candidates 2, 5 and 8 are nominated in that order
Decision. Vote on 2, then 5, then 8, even if the seating numbers run differently.
Case 4. A player nominates 4 and 7 at once
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.2 the first candidate not yet nominated is accepted; the referee must confirm it clearly.
Case 5. A player tries to withdraw a nomination
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.2 withdrawal is forbidden.
Case 6. A player did not vote for anyone
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.10 the vote goes to the last candidate and a foul is given.
Case 7. A player voted twice
Decision. The order of voting was breached; the referee records the matching penalty under the chosen rulebook.
Case 8. A player raised a hand before the command "Stop"
Decision. Record the action and apply RFM 4.4.8 and 5.9.5, taking the reservations about penalties into account.
Case 9. Two candidates got 4:4
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.13: extra speeches of 30 seconds each and a repeat vote.
Case 10. Three candidates got 3:3:2
Decision. The two with the equal maximum go into the prescribed procedure; the third is not a leader.
Case 11. In the repeat vote the circle of leaders became smaller
Decision. Under RFM 4.4.13.2 new 30-second speeches and a vote are possible; check the conditions of the clause.
Case 12. A player got a fourth foul before the result was announced
Decision. Check RFM 5.6-5.7: removal and the effect of the moment of removal on the vote.
Equal votes: study cards
Six study cards for the referee's exam.
- Card 5:5. Two candidates, equal highest number of votes.
- Card 4:4:2. Three candidates; two lead with equal votes.
- Card 3:3:3:1. Four candidates; three share the maximum.
- Card 6:4. Two candidates; no tie.
- Card 10:0. Two candidates; all votes for one.
- Card Single candidate. A special case that needs an exact check of the rulebook.
What the referee must do in each case. Name the rule that applies; announce the next step; say who gets how much time (if provided); determine what happens in a repeated tie. Without the original source, a correct answer is not asserted.