Voting online, step by step

1. Open your ballot email. Your ballot arrives from HOA Elections of California at the email address your association has on file. It names your community and your election date. If you cannot find it, check your spam and promotions folders before requesting a replacement.
2. Access your electronic ballot. The email contains a secure link that is unique to you and opens your ballot directly. Do not forward it. The link is tied to your membership and can only be used once.
3. Review your election materials and candidate statements. Before voting you can read the election notice, the voting rules, and any documents your association included. Each candidate's statement appears next to their name so you can compare them without leaving the ballot.
4. Select your candidates. Your ballot shows how many candidates you may vote for, and it will not let you select more than your governing documents allow.
5. Enter a write-in candidate. If your association permits write-ins, there is a field for the name.
6. Vote on additional measures. Some elections include items beyond the board seats, such as a rule change or an assessment. Those appear after the candidate section.
7. Submit and confirm your ballot. You will see a summary of your selections before anything is final. Review it, then submit. A confirmation screen appears immediately.
8. Keep your email receipt. A receipt arrives in your inbox confirming that your ballot was recorded. Keep it. It is your proof that you voted on time.

Is electronic voting secret?

Yes. The secret ballot protections that apply to a paper HOA election apply to an electronic one. Your membership is verified when you open your unique ballot link, and your selections are recorded separately from the record that you voted, so your identity cannot be connected to your choices.

The Inspector of Elections controls the ballot data and the tabulation, not the board and not management. That independence is the same whether your election runs on paper, online, or both.

Learn more about the role of the Inspector of Elections and the Davis-Stirling requirements that govern California HOA elections.

Electronic vs. paper: what changes and what does not

Associations do not have to choose one or the other. A hybrid election lets members who prefer paper keep receiving paper while everyone else votes online.

Choosing how you receive your ballot

Members choose their own voting method. If you want to switch between electronic and paper, submit the voting preference form. Changes must be received no later than 90 days before your election date.

Submit a voting preference

Common questions about HOA online voting

How do I vote online in my HOA election?

Open the ballot email from HOA Elections of California, click your secure ballot link, review the candidate statements and any measures on the ballot, make your selections, and submit. You will get an on-screen confirmation and an emailed receipt.

What if I never received my ballot email?

Check your spam and promotions folders first. If it is not there, your association may not have a current email address on file for you. You can request a replacement ballot.

Can I change my vote after I submit it?

No. Once submitted, your ballot is final, the same as mailing a sealed paper ballot. Review the summary screen carefully before you submit.

Can I vote from my phone?

Yes. The electronic ballot works in any mobile browser, so you can vote from a phone, tablet, or computer.

Is electronic voting in an HOA election secret?

Yes. Your membership is verified when you open your unique ballot link, and your selections are recorded separately from the record that you voted, so your identity cannot be connected to your choices. An independent Inspector of Elections controls the ballot data and the tabulation.

Does my association have to offer electronic voting?

No. Each association decides whether to offer electronic voting, and that decision has to follow its governing documents and the Davis-Stirling Act. If your board is considering it, we can walk you through what is required.