Secure Online Voting for Florida HOA Elections
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Adding online/electronic voting to elections is one of the top inquiries we receive at SBS. And now that Florida law allows Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to implement online elections, we’ve seen a wave of requests from the Sunshine State.
Online voting is convenient for HOA members and is safe and secure, as long as you choose the right election partner.
How do you know online voting is right for your HOA?
- Your association spends a large amount of money designing, printing and mailing paper ballots. Online voting can be great for your HOA’s bottom line, freeing up funds for other projects and expenses.
- Elections are stressful for your organization and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to organize in-person voting and guarantee the security of paper ballots. Online elections require a lot less people power.
- The inaccuracy of annual hand counts, duplicate ballots and tallying is a concern for your association. Accuracy counts and electronic voting is automated and precise.
- Voter participation is low in your election and you may have trouble reaching a quorum. Online voting can increase HOA election member participation because it’s quick, easy and convenient.
Adding Online Voting for HOA Elections
If online elections sound like they might be a good fit for your association, here’s how your Florida-based HOA can expand your election to include online voting:
- Change the bylaws
Check with your legal advisor and work with your HOA board to adopt a resolution and update the bylaws to include online voting. Follow any established timelines to submit proposed amendments to avoid delays. - Find an election partner
Expanding your HOA elections to include online voting is not a DIY task, so you’ll need to find a trusted election partner with extensive experience in online elections.
Look for a third-party provider with many years of experience who emphasizes security measures such as exclusive names and passwords, an election website that utilizes TLS encryption and authentification, a modern web framework, data backup and strict quality control procedures.
For more information about your HOA offering online elections or to find out if the technology is right for you, contact us any time. We’re here to help.
Since joining SBS in 2011, Tony has led company communications, branding, and product launches, maintaining SBS as the go-to for governance solutions. He regularly hosts educational webinars and speaks at national trade association events across the United States. Tony’s expertise has earned him media recognition, with features in outlets like Rural Electric Magazine, The Association Adviser podcast, Associations Now, and NBC’s King 5 Mornings in Seattle.