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In the world of member-based organizations, like professional associations, HOAs, unions, universities, and religious groups, timing is everything. When it comes to making decisions, electing leaders, or gathering member input, delays can lead to disengagement, frustration, and missed opportunities.  That’s why speed isn’t a feat

Online voting means accessibility. Often, one of the most important parts of this is eliminating the hassle of traveling to a physical location, but it can mean other things, too. Online voting in multilingual settings can help voters by providing notices, instructions, and ballots in multiple languages, helping reduce confusion and incre

A necessary part of effective union management is knowing how to conduct elections so that the membership feels heard and represented. Union quorum is calculated as a percentage of eligible members required for a vote to be considered valid. This percentage is defined by the union’s constitution, bylaws, or labor laws. Whether a union c

Online voting was a revelation for many member-based organizations, improving access, speed, and efficiency of elections. Doing so with a smartphone can be even easier. To vote online with a smartphone, members usually receive a secure link that authenticates their identity, and they can submit their vote with ease. The best online voting

Is every election required to be anonymous? When it comes to religious organizations, there are no overarching rules specifying that secret ballots are necessary during elections. However, keeping voter ballots anonymous is a well-known best practice. In some cases, an organization's bylaws or state rules may require it. Whether it's a ch

Professional associations thrive on member engagement. Whether you’re electing board members, passing bylaw amendments, or voting on policy changes during an AGM, participation from your members is vital. But ensuring accessible participation can be challenging especially when your members vary in location, age, tech-savviness, and avai

Timely input and clear decision making is essential for effective governance, especially in higher education. Whether it’s electing alumni council positions, approving departmental or university-wide policy changes, confirming academic senate motions, ratifying faculty union agreements, allocating student government budgets, or managing

For some organizations, especially within cooperatives or company shareholder meetings, voting power for each member or shareholder isn't always equal. Some may hold more "weight" or influence based on predefined rules (like shares owned, membership level, properties owned or proxies held).  One such method that handles this dynamic

We’re heading to Orlando for the CAI Annual Conference, and we’d love to meet you there! We’re excited to invite you to Booth 625, where you can discover how ElectionBuddy can simplify your community association voting process and take advantage of exclusive conference-only promotions including gifts, t-shirts, and conference only p

California law surrounding HOA board elections is strict, so compliance checklists for board elections are often used to help organizations fulfill their duty under the law. These can include time-based deadlines and other relevant details on what must be disclosed and what needs to remain anonymous.  HOA elections in California also

California law on homeowners associations is strict. There are several required disclosures that must be sent to voters before HOA voting. These include nomination procedures, preferred voting method information, lists of candidates and ballot measures, and rules surrounding recounts and disputes.  California homeowner association el

Online voting is more widespread than ever. The key to ensuring secure and fair elections is robust voter authentication methods online. These methods include individual PIN numbers, one-time access codes, and two-factor authentication.  The State of California has strict rules regarding online voting. To ensure voter anonymity and r

Holding elections is a complex process. Frequent challenges include voter non-participation, manual ballot handling, and challenges to election results.  For example, HOA elections in California can be particularly challenging due to strict laws, such as one that requires a California HOA election inspector to independently oversee t

Sending out community reminders for upcoming elections is essential for informing voters. Reminders can be sent via traditional mail, email, or text message. As the date draws nearer, additional information like candidate profiles and ballot measures may be announced.  HOA elections in California come with their own set of rules, one