# Modify abstain so that it does not count toward quorum **URL:** \ **Category:** Hub Proposals\ **Created:** [August 18, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/modify-abstain-so-that-it-does-not-count-toward-quorum/11298 "2023-08-18T02:51:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 53
**Author:** ![Cosmos\_Nanny](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forum.cosmos.network/cosmos_nanny/32/8121_2.png) [@Cosmos\_Nanny](https://forum.cosmos.network/u/Cosmos_Nanny)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/modify-abstain-so-that-it-does-not-count-toward-quorum/11298/53 "2023-08-25T01:23:14Z")
If the intent is to use Abstain to express neutrality or perhaps indifference, 50/50 weighted is the correct vote. In the event a validator wishes to express “conflict” by voting abstain, while it’s socially accepted as expressing “no vote,” voting abstain does not recuse a voting validator. Technically and quantitatively it has a calculable effect. In fact, voting abstain in non sequential elections where relative quotas are used as qualifying requirements – tallied abstentions in these contexts carry well known “no-show paradox” effects. The impact of abstain in establishing QUORUM (ABSOLUTE quota, 40%, proportion of network) must not be conflated with its effects on THRESHOLD (RELATIVE quota, 50%, minimum proportion of participating voting power required to pass a proposal). With a relative quota the # of votes required to win varies w # of votes cast; thus w relative quotas, the effect of voter’s decision to abstain REDUCES the number of votes necessary to pass a proposal. The issue with using abstain with current param for threshold, is that the abstainer’s potential support or opposition to the prop is often NOT removed in equal measure – 50/50, as commonly assumed, but removed in proportion of the relative quota requirement. Will be sharing some chain data soon to convey the above. --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.cosmos.network/t/modify-abstain-so-that-it-does-not-count-toward-quorum/11298)._