ELECTRONIC VOTING
Electronic Voting for HOA Elections
The same secret-ballot election the law requires — delivered as a link instead of an envelope, with paper for anyone who wants it.
How electronic voting actually works in a California HOA election — how ballots reach members, how the secret ballot stays secret, and what happens for members who'd rather vote on paper.
What Electronic Voting Means in a California HOA Election
It's the same secret-ballot board election California HOAs have always held — a member's identity verified, their vote kept secret, an independent inspector certifying the result — conducted online instead of on paper.
What stays the same
Electronic voting doesn't change what the election is; it changes how it's carried out. The ballot is still secret, the inspector is still independent, and the rules of a valid HOA election still apply. What goes away is the paper machinery: printing, mailing to every household, and counting by hand. California expressly permits it under AB 2159 (effective January 1, 2025) — see whether electronic voting is legal for your HOA →
How Ballots Reach Members
Each member gets their own ballot at the email address on the association's voter list, tied to a unique voter credential — so only the right member can open and cast their ballot.
How ballot delivery works
An electronic ballot is delivered to the member individually, not posted in a shared place — the same principle as a mailed paper ballot addressed to one household, but instant. Because each ballot is tied to a single member's credential, a ballot can't be cast by anyone other than the member it belongs to, and it can't be cast twice. Members without a usable email address, or who prefer paper, are handled separately (below).
How the Secret Ballot Is Kept Secret
The member's identity is verified when they vote, and their vote choices are stored separately from that identity — so the ballot can be confirmed as valid without a name attached to how someone voted.
How the separation works
This is the part electronic voting has to get exactly right, and it's what separates a real secret ballot from a survey with names attached. Identity and vote are handled in two stages: first the system confirms the voter is eligible and hasn't already voted; then the vote choices are recorded and stored separately from the voter's identity. During review, an inspector sees only a ballot key — not a name, address, unit, or email — alongside how that ballot voted. Keeping the vote and the voter apart is what makes it a secret ballot rather than a poll with names on it.
What Happens If a Member Won't Vote Electronically
They vote on paper. California law protects a member's right to a written ballot, and a mailed ballot goes to anyone who opts out — the election runs both ways at once.
How the paper option works
Electronic voting is never all-or-nothing. A member can choose paper, and under the law can switch between electronic and written ballot up to 90 days before an election. Paper ballots are printed and mailed only to those members, so the mailing shrinks to whoever actually wants paper instead of every household. Both the electronic and paper ballots carry the same items, and the same inspector certifies the combined result.
The voting methods BallotLink supports
BallotLink supports three voting methods, and which one an election uses depends on what's being decided: plurality, cumulative, or approval voting. The right one depends on the seats and the association's rules.
- Plurality — The most common. Each member casts one vote per open seat, and the candidates with the most votes win. Used for straightforward board elections filling a set number of seats.
- Cumulative — Members can concentrate their votes — casting multiple votes for a single candidate rather than spreading them — where the governing documents allow it. Gives minority interests a way to elect a preferred candidate.
- Approval — Members vote for as many candidates as they approve of, and the top vote-getters win. Useful when a board wants members to signal support across a slate.
- Ranked-choice — in development: Ranked-choice voting is in development and not yet available. It's noted here only so associations that want it know it's on the way.
Which method applies to a given election depends on the association's governing documents — an independent Inspector of Elections can confirm the right one.
Questions About Electronic Voting
Is electronic voting legal for California HOAs?
Yes — AB 2159 (effective January 1, 2025) authorizes it. See the legality guide for the full picture.
Can a member still vote on paper?
Yes, and the law protects that right. A member can switch between electronic and paper up to 90 days before an election.
Who makes sure the election is valid?
An independent Inspector of Elections — required for every California HOA election, electronic or paper.
How many voting methods are available?
Three today — plurality, cumulative, and approval. Ranked-choice is in development.