HOA Voting
Our Homeowner’s Association holds their annual meeting soon. We have some director positions to fill and there’s a special ballot on parking. The vote for directors is by secret ballot; the vote on parking isn’t. The resident’s lot number has to be indicated on the special ballot. Why?
I have talked to a couple of directors about this and the only quasi explanation I received is, “We don’t have to.” So what? Why does the board want the ability to identify who voted for or against the ballot?
I may vote my ballot and not indicate a lot number, just in protest. On the other hand, that apparently would void my ballot and I know that a lot of time, effort and expense has been expended by TC and other residents. I just hope that this “non-secret” method of voting will be changed in the future.
January 4th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
The reason the lot number has to be placed on this particular ballot is because this change to the CC&R’s takes fifty percent of the lots in the subdivision plus one to pass. The only way it can be assured that the vote is legitimate, and that each lot has only cast the one vote the owners are entitled to, is to require the lot number on the ballot. Otherwise, nefarious persons could vote more than once, and there would be no way to determine if this happened. So, no secret ballot on this provision. Also, this voting requirement is specified in the CC&R’s themselves.
The election of the new directors is by secret ballot; the change to the CC&R’s isnt. Has to be that way.
January 4th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Correct. Basically, one lot one vote.
January 4th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
There is no dispute but that each lot is entitled to one vote for new directors, and the CC&R proposal. Our CC&Rs provide, in part:
How then can the Board prevent “nefarious persons” from voting more than once for Directors without Lot Numbers on the ballot?
There is no provision in the CC&Rs requiring Lot Numbers on ballots. The same protection against “stuffing the ballot box” can be prevented by requiring that both ballots be returned in the same, unmarked envelope, and enclosed in an envelope with the Lot Number indicated.
January 5th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
OldGeezer—-you seem a bit paranoid! If someone REALLY wanted to see how you were voting, and followed your scheme, they could easily do it because the lot number would be on the envelop and that way they could also see who you were voting for in the election.
The truth is, no one really gives a damn about who is voting for what, or who. Why should they? Give me a reason why—even a single reason. Its not like these are high paying, heavily sought- after positions. Or that somebody has a vested interest in seeing if you REALLY wanted to allow pickups to park in the driveways.
Like Mickey Mouse use to say:
When things go wrong, as they usually will
and your daily life seems all uphill
When your cash is low and your debts are high
and you want to laugh, but can only cry
And you feel like you would like to quit
dont tell me—I dont give a shit!
January 5th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
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