The HOA Board Quarterly Fall 2013 Issue #7 | Page 6
BUYING VOTES?
QUESTION: Our board is doing a rewrite of our
bylaws and CC&Rs. My problem is that they are
offering $5 gift cards to those who return their
ballots. Is it legal to use HOA funds in this way?
its bylaws to quorum requirements and cumulative
voting for the election of directors. In addition, it
should lower CC&R amendment requirements from
a supermajority to 50%. Once that is done, future
elections will be much more manageable.
ANSWER: Yes it is legal. Doing so is not the same
as buying votes. Instead, it is an incentive to vote
and can be used for both annual meetings and
amendment approvals.
Annual Meetings. Association elections are
different from municipal elections in that HOAs
must meet quorum requirements and cities don’t.
For example, in the May 2013 mayoral election
in Los Angeles, only 19% of eligible voters cast
ballots. The dismal turnout did not derail the
election as it would in a homeowners association
since no qu ?????????????
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