Understanding HOA voting rules before an election takes place is a necessary step for any informed voter. The best way to accomplish this is with voter education. Once the rules are clear, elections run smoother and with fewer disputes. An HOA online election is one way to speed up voter education and administer elections more efficiently.
Rules surrounding HOA elections and voting vary by state but are also tied to federal elections laws. HOAs must balance both to ensure their elections comply at every level.
At the state level, some HOAs are bound to laws tied to how the HOA is organized. For example, corporate HOAs and non-profit HOAs may have slightly different rules. In other states, HOAs have their own election statutes entirely regardless of, or in addition to existing corporate or non-profit laws.
Still, the HOA voting requirements are generally the same or similar in these respects:
| Step | Requirement | Purpose / Explanation |
| 1 | Advance Notice | Members must be informed of upcoming elections at least 30 days in advance. |
| 2 | Ballot Access | Voters receive materials detailing candidates, measures, and instructions for submitting votes. |
| 3 | Quorum | Minimum number of voters required to validate the election. |
| 4 | Voting Eligibility | Only members in good standing with the HOA may vote; proxy voting may be allowed if approved. |
| 5 | Vote Submission | Votes must be cast within the designated timeframe, via paper, mail, or online platforms. |
| 6 | Results Announcement | Election results must be shared within a specified period with transparency. |
| 7 | Challenge Process | Members can inspect results or file complaints if elections are believed to be conducted improperly. |
| 8 | Security & Anonymity | Votes must remain confidential; online platforms should use encryption and authentication. |
HOAs have long struggled with voter participation and this is in part due to poor voter education. Previously, archaic laws in most states required mail-in or in person voting. Changes of address or incorrectly filed documents often meant voters were unaware of upcoming elections and their results.
An uneducated or undereducated voter may not fully understand who and what they are voting for and why it matters. A solution needed to be found.
Voter education was one of the difficulties examined when the legislature tried improving participation in Arizona HOA elections. They decided to allow online voting in 2016 to give voters more options to participate.
Moving elections online means that HOAs only need an email address and a phone number for each household. Informing voters is far easier as all disclosures can be sent via email rather than costly envelopes that risk getting lost in the mail.
With a single click, voters on systems like ElectionBuddy can examine HOA bylaws surrounding elections, view candidate profiles, and see ballot measures. They can also cast their votes with a single click.
When voting becomes simpler, members are far more likely to participate. This increased turnout means a fairer and more democratic process for everyone.
ElectionBuddy also utilizes top-tier encryption methods and two-factor authentication to keep ballots secure and anonymized. If any disputes arise after an election, the results can be audited quickly to find discrepancies and remove them from the system. This enhanced transparency increases voter’s trust in the system and makes them more likely to vote in the future!
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