We need your help to get the electronic voting bill, Assembly Bill 2159 signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

If signed, this bill would allow your HOA the option of conducting most elections electronically, saving your association money and making it easier for homeowners to participate! Currently, HOAs rely on a paper-based mail-in-voting system similar to Californian’s vote-by-mail process.

While vote-by-mail is a valid method for voting, it suffers from low community participation and significant costs. Additionally, if an association fails to meet the quorum requirement, the election must be postponed and then rescheduled, which increases costs and inconveniences owners. While this proposal is new to California, it is not a new idea as 27 states already allow electronic voting in community association elections.

Transitioning to an electronic balloting system will allow California to join these 27 other states and bring the community association election process into the modern era, increasing community participation and efficiency. Electronic voting can make it easier for homeowners to vote, leading to higher turnout and more representative elections. In addition to reducing costs associated with printing, mailing, and processing paper ballots, electronic voting also will reduce waste and save fuel so it is also an environmentally friendly process.

Email Governor Newsom to urge him to sign AB 2159. He must act no later than September 30 but could take action any day.

Allowing HOAs to vote electronically is long overdue, and will increase participation and reduce costs for HOAs. Good for community associations + good for the environment = good for California!