Can You Use E-Voting at In-Person Owners’ Meetings?
- Valeriia Dolgova
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Electronic voting is now a permanent feature of condominium and strata governance across much of Canada. Boards and managers often ask whether electronic voting may be used when an in-person meeting is also being held.
In many cases, the answer is yes, provided provincial legislation and governing documents are followed.
Meetings and Voting Methods Are Distinct
It is important to distinguish between:
Meeting format — how owners attend (in person, virtual, or hybrid), and
Voting method — how votes are cast (paper ballot, electronic vote, proxy, etc.).
Canadian condominium and strata legislation generally allows associations to hold an in-person meeting while also permitting electronic voting before or during that meeting, subject to applicable rules.
What Is Electronic Voting?
Electronic voting (often called e-voting) allows owners to cast votes online or electronically instead of using paper ballots.
It may be used for matters such as:
Board elections
Amendments to bylaws or declarations
Budgets and reserve fund decisions
Other owner approval items
Electronic voting does not remove the requirement to:
Give proper notice
Establish quorum
Hold a meeting where required
Record and retain voting results
How Electronic Voting Fits Into an In-Person Meeting
Electronic voting is often built into in-person meetings in a few simple ways:
Pre-Meeting Voting
Owners receive a secure link and can vote electronically before the meeting. Votes cast in advance count toward quorum, even if the owner doesn’t attend in person.
Live Voting at the Meeting
Owners attending the meeting may vote electronically during the meeting or submit a paper ballot if they prefer. This flexibility ensures all owners can participate, whether they attend in person or not.
Faster, More Accurate Results
Electronic votes are recorded instantly, reducing errors and speeding up results. For larger corporations, this avoids time-consuming and error-prone manual ballot counting.
How This Works in Different Regions
Ontario
Ontario’s Condominium Act requires owner approvals to happen at meetings of owners, but meetings no longer need to be fully in person.
Since October 2023:
Meetings may be in person, virtual, or hybrid
Owners may vote electronically, in person, or by proxy
Owners who vote electronically are deemed “present” for quorum
No special e-voting by-law is required unless existing by-laws restrict it.
What this means:
Ontario condos can hold in-person meetings and include electronic voting as part of the same process.
Alberta
Alberta permits electronic meetings and electronic voting, with one important caveat: bylaws control the details.
In Alberta:
Meetings may be in person, virtual, or hybrid
Electronic voting is allowed
Corporations may still use paper ballots or proxies
Bylaws may allow, limit, or prohibit electronic voting
What this means:
Electronic voting can be used alongside in-person meetings if the bylaws allow it.
British Columbia
British Columbia permanently allows electronic and hybrid strata meetings without requiring a by-law.
Key points:
Electronic attendees are deemed present in person
Votes may be taken electronically, in person, or by proxy
Quorum includes electronic and proxy participation
Secret ballots apply only to in-person participants
What this means:
B.C. stratas can hold in-person or hybrid meetings and include electronic voting as part of the same meeting.
The Bottom Line
Across Canada, legislation increasingly supports the use of electronic voting alongside in-person meetings. Boards and managers should review:
Applicable provincial legislation
Corporation bylaws
Notice, quorum, and record-keeping requirements
When done properly, electronic voting and in-person meetings work together to make association decisions more accessible, compliant, and easier for owners to participate in.
Looking to add electronic voting to your next owners’ meeting?
CondoVoter offers fully managed, compliant e-voting across Canada.
