Let’s Talk E-Voting: What Communities Should Know Before Getting Started
- Oshadhi Herman
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 31 minutes ago
Electronic voting is becoming more common in condo and HOA communities. As more association business moves online, many boards are starting to ask whether e-voting is the right fit for their community.
So what does electronic voting actually look like in a real association election?
What should boards consider under their state or provincial laws and their governing documents?
And can e-voting really help increase owner participation and make reaching quorum easier?
To help answer these questions, we spoke with Oshadhi Herman, an electronic voting specialist and Growth & Engagement Lead at CondoVoter, as well as a CAI Educated Business Partner. She shares what boards and community managers should know before getting started with e-voting.
Q1: Boards hear a lot about e-voting lately. What’s driving the shift?
Oshadhi: Participation. Traditional paper ballots and in-person voting just don’t work as well anymore. Owners are busy, often off-site, and expect digital options. E-voting removes barriers and makes it easier for owners to actually take part in decisions.
Q2: Is electronic voting legal for condo and HOA communities?
Oshadhi: In many states and provinces, yes — and legislation continues to move in that direction. The key is following local statutes and your governing documents. That’s why we always help communities confirm what’s permitted before moving forward.
Q3: Can communities use e-voting and still hold in-person meetings?
Oshadhi: Absolutely. Meetings and voting methods are two separate things. Many associations hold in-person or hybrid meetings while allowing owners to vote electronically before or during the meeting.
Q4: Does e-voting really improve quorum?
Oshadhi: It does — dramatically. When owners can vote in advance, quorum is often reached before the meeting even happens. That takes a huge amount of pressure off boards and managers.
Q5: How secure is electronic voting?
Oshadhi: Security is critical. A proper e-voting system uses unique voter authentication, audit trails, time stamps, and controlled access. Votes are recorded accurately and can be verified if questions ever arise.
Q6: What about secret ballots and inspector oversight?
Oshadhi: E-voting can fully support secret ballots and oversight requirements when set up correctly. The process mirrors traditional elections — just without the paper handling and manual counting.
Q7: Do owners actually like voting online?
Oshadhi: Yes — especially owners who travel, rent out their units, or simply prefer digital tools. We often hear, “This is the first time I’ve voted in years.”
Q8: Is e-voting complicated for boards or managers to manage?
Oshadhi: It’s actually simpler. Notices, reminders, voting, and reporting are all centralized. Instead of chasing paper ballots, managers can focus on running effective meetings.
Q9: What’s the biggest misconception about e-voting?
Oshadhi: That it replaces meetings or removes transparency. In reality, it strengthens governance by increasing participation and creating clear records of every step in the process.
Q10: When is the right time for a community to consider e-voting?
Oshadhi: If quorum is stressful, meetings feel harder to manage each year, or owners are disengaged — that’s usually the right moment. E-voting is about making governance easier, not more complicated.