This law outlines the rules for how elections should be conducted in community associations, especially regarding significant decisions like changing assessments, choosing or removing directors, altering governing documents, or granting exclusive use of common areas. Such decisions must be made through secret ballots. Elections for director positions must happen at the end of each term and at least every four years. The rules apply regardless of what the governing documents say, to both incorporated and unincorporated associations. However, these rules do not cover votes by delegates or elected representatives. If there’s a conflict with other laws about elections, this article takes precedence. Directors aren’t required to be chosen through secret ballots if the documents specify that each separate property interest gets one director.

This section of the law explains how a homeowners' association (HOA) can elect board members without a formal vote, known as election by acclamation, if the number of candidates is equal to or less than the number of board vacancies. For this to happen, certain conditions must be met: the HOA must have held a regular election in the last three years and must have provided members with adequate notice and instructions about the election and nomination process. This includes initial and reminder notices, including important details like the number of positions available and the nomination deadline. Moreover, the HOA needs to acknowledge nominations promptly and inform nominees of their qualification status. If these steps are followed, and the board agrees, they can declare the candidates elected without a vote at a properly noticed meeting.

This law outlines specific rules that associations must follow when holding elections. First, it requires equal media access for all candidates in a campaign, ensuring that all viewpoints have a chance to be heard. It mandates free access to common areas for campaign purposes and clear procedures for candidate qualifications and election processes. The association must designate independent inspectors for overseeing the election, along with keeping accurate voter and candidate lists available for member verification.

Disqualification criteria for candidates include not being a member at the nomination time, past criminal convictions affecting insurance, and other association-specific rules like non-payment of assessments. The law emphasizes fair election procedures, prohibits denying ballots to members, and sets rules for electronic secret ballot voting, including options for members to switch voting methods. It mandates that electronic voting must ensure secrecy and integrity, while requiring associations to provide necessary information and ballots timely.

This section explains the rules for choosing inspectors for election processes within associations. The association must select an independent third party to be the inspector, and this party can be a volunteer poll worker, accountant, or notary public, but not someone employed by or contracted to the association. Inspectors ensure the election runs fairly, including verifying ballots, counting votes, and addressing voting challenges. If conducting electronic voting, inspectors must follow guidelines to maintain ballot secrecy and integrity. Inspectors must act fairly and impartially, and their reports serve as evidence of the election process.

This section outlines the process for conducting elections within associations, such as homeowners associations (HOAs). It requires the association to give advance notice about how to submit nominations for elections and about voting procedures. It describes how ballots should be handled to maintain voter privacy, including using envelopes similar to mail-in voting procedures. For elections requiring a quorum (minimum number of participants), it specifies how meetings can be scheduled or rescheduled to meet quorum requirements. The section also covers voting methods, allowing mail and electronic voting if the rules permit. Additionally, it requires sharing proposed amendments when voting on changes to governing documents.

This law section says that all the materials related to an election, like ballots and voter lists, must be kept safe by the election inspectors until the results are final and the period for challenging the election has passed. Once that's done, the materials are handed over to the association. If there's a need to recount votes or challenge the election process, a member can request to see the ballots and results summary. Any recount must protect voter privacy.

This law is about the use of proxies in voting for associations. A proxy is a written permission allowing someone else to vote on behalf of a member. The proxy must be signed, which can be done in various forms, like handwriting or even electronic communication. Proxies can't replace ballots, but associations can use them if their rules allow. Any voting instructions in a proxy should be on a separate page that can be detached. The person holding the proxy votes in secret, and the member can cancel the proxy before their vote is counted.

This section allows members of an association to take legal action if they believe election rules were violated. If members can prove there was a breach, the court can invalidate election results unless the association proves the breach didn’t affect outcomes. If members win the case, they can also claim reasonable legal costs and possibly a penalty up to $500 for each violation. Violations that affect all members the same way are subject to a single penalty. Cases can be filed either in superior court or small claims court, depending on the amount involved.