HOA nomination petition requirements exist to help the organization determine which candidates have legitimate support within the community. Instead of holding open nominations, petitions require homeowners to gather a predetermined number of signatures to nominate an individual for office.
HOA election services like those from ElectionBuddy can assist with moving much of the nomination process online. Allowing members to submit nominations electronically helps the process move faster.
After online submission, any required physical signatures to formalize a nomination can be gathered as necessary. Petition requirements can vary from community to community, but generally follow the same general guidelines.
Typically, those nominated by community members must first meet the following requirements:
| Nominee Eligibility | Must be a community member in good standing, submit willingness to serve, provide personal info or qualifications |
| Number of Signatures Needed | Varies by HOA size; usually a percentage of total voting members (e.g., 5% of 1,000 members = 50 signatures) |
| Who Can Sign | Only registered voting member of each household; must also be in good standing |
| Submission Requirements | Petition must be filed before HOA deadlines, with standardized forms correctly filled out |
| Petition Review & Acceptance | HOA examines eligibility, documentation, and compliance with governing documents before adding nominee to the ballot |
| Optional Write-in Nomination | Some HOAs/states allow write-ins for members not formally nominated |
Each residence within an HOA may have several members in the household. Most HOAs only allow a single vote per property. Therefore, only the registered voting member of the household may sign a petition. This helps to prevent multiple people signing a petition who are not eligible voters.
Much like nominees who must be in good standing, the signatories of each petition must be, as well. Those members who are behind on dues or in violation of community standards may be excluded. Each HOA has its own standards that are considered valid as long as they also adhere to election laws.
Petitions are subject to specific HOA nomination deadlines and timelines set forth in the governing documents. Petitions filed after the deadline can be rejected and therefore must be submitted in a timely manner. Many nomination petitions also require additional information, such as standardized forms that must be correctly filled out.
Upon submission, the HOA will examine the relevant documentation to determine eligibility within the association’s rules contained in the governing documents. Once all requirements are met, the nomination will move forward to be included on ballots for the upcoming election.
Some states and associations may also have an HOA write-in nomination process, which allows members to vote for someone not formally nominated.
Once an HOA member has created a profile with ElectionBuddy, they can access election materials of all types, including nominations. Nomination submission can then be accomplished via a user-friendly online form.
However, it’s important to note that some HOA bylaws may still require physical signatures. These can then be submitted to the HOA’s board for final approval to be added to the online ballot.
The rest of the election can then proceed through ElectionBuddy’s convenient and secure online voting portal. Check out ElectionBuddy’s resources today to see all the options available!
© 2011-2026 ElectionBuddy, Inc. All Rights Reserved
