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The Davis-Stirling Act is the primary legislation that governs homeowners associations in the state of California. One key provision of the law was a requirement that HOAs hold elections via a secret vote through mail-in ballots only. In September 2024, a new bill was passed that amended the Davis-Stirling Act to allow for secure electron

No matter where you live, understanding homeowners associations (HOAs) and how they make decisions is not always easy. The good news is that many of them operate the same way, even in Orange County! Whether you’re holding Orange County HOA board elections, approving rule changes, or deciding on community projects, the Orange County HOA

Northern California HOA rules are all about keeping neighborhoods looking great, maintaining property values, and ensuring everyone stays on the same page to maintain a happy and peaceful community. Many HOAs are also turning to electronic voting. However, state law requires a California HOA inspector of elections to oversee the process t

Guidelines for homeowners associations (HOAs) in Los Angeles help them enforce rules fairly, maintain common areas, and stay compliant with evolving laws. For the most part, Los Angeles HOAs operate under California’s Davis-Stirling Act, which governs elections, meetings, and financial practices across the state, as well as the need to

At ElectionBuddy, we’ve traditionally presented voting results based on the total number of votes cast per question, rather than based on the number of unique voters. This distinction can have a significant impact on how results are presented, particularly in elections with multiple vacancies. Many organizations have different requireme

Understanding and navigating Davis-Stirling Act compliance is crucial for HOAs operating in the state of California. This act outlines several aspects of HOA governance, legal authority, and voting. Recent changes to allow electronic voting have expanded upon the original legislation to ensure it meets the needs of today's online world.&n

The new HOA law in California, passed in September 2024, includes amendments to the Davis-Stirling Act of 1985. These amendments make it possible for HOAs to conduct elections online rather than through costly and time-consuming paper balloting.  Permission for electronic voting was granted on the condition that HOAs employ an indepe

One of the biggest challenges when preparing a vote is ensuring that voters will read and understand the instructions. ElectionBuddy, along with other systems includes pre-defined instructions, but some voters may still be unfamiliar with the process. Here are some tips to make voting instructions as clear and user-friendly as possible.

Achieving HOA compliance is crucial for homeowners associations to operate within the law. In the state of California, the Davis-Stirling Act is the primary legislation that regulates HOAs. As of January 2025, a new amendment will allow HOAs to conduct elections online rather than exclusively by mail-in ballots. It also mandates that HOAs

Voting quorums stipulate the minimum number of members who need to participate in an election or voting process for the outcomes to be upheld. For HOAs, this means the California HOA inspector of elections they appoint needs to verify that, for example, at least half of the members have voted. Although the exact quorum is […]

If you are part of a homeowners association (HOA), you know there can be a wide variety of rules and guidelines to follow. There are also laws in place issued by the state that apply to HOAs, such as the Davis-Stirling Act, which is responsible for the requirement of a California Inspector of Elections when […]

Managing voting on behalf of an HOA in Orange County can be complex. An independent California Homeowner Association inspector of elections must be appointed to confirm that the elections comply with all the relevant rules and regulations. Recent changes introduced via the Davis-Stirling Act do, though, streamline convenient voting option

Electronic voting has revolutionized the way HOAs engage with members, hold votes and elections, and encourage homeowners to participate. While the regulations vary between states, a California HOA inspector of elections will ensure your election is compliant and properly managed. The key advantage of electronic voting is that it broadens

Board members, homeowners, and tenants with properties within an HOA area should be fully aware of their rights, responsibilities, and obligations, especially because HOA boards must appoint a California inspector of elections to oversee the fairness and accuracy of all election processes. Much depends on whether a tenant is a confirmed H