A Guide to the Florida Condo and Homeowner Association Election Process
2020 is a big year for elections! It’s not all about the president, either: if you’re part of a homeowner association or condo association, you’ll also have to cast your vote at your HOA or COA election. Millions of Floridians do this every year, but if you aren’t familiar with the process, it can be a bit confusing. Here’s what you need to know before participating in your first COA or HOA elections.
The Importance of COA and HOA Elections
It’s only through democratic elections that HOA or COA board members are chosen. The board members are homeowners from within the community. Only members of the association (not renters) are allowed to vote. Elections may be held in-person, online, or via mail depending on the association.
You shouldn’t miss your HOA or COA election because the results will affect your entire community. The board members are representatives of all the members of the community. They make key decisions on community facilities and amenities. The board also ensures that the community rules and bylaws are being properly followed. Without the board, the community’s curb appeal would suffer.
Who’s on the Ballot?
Typically, the election will take place during an annual meeting. Sometimes associations have a required minimum number of people that must show up to hold an election.
Members vote on the following positions:
- President who leads the meetings and signs off on all contracts, legal documents, and checks related to the association
- Vice president who can step in for the president if they are unable to perform their duties
- Secretary who takes the minutes of all meetings, oversees the HOA or COA records, and sometimes write newsletters for the community
- Treasurer who oversees the association’s finances including collecting dues and paying vendors.
Each person plays an important role in the board and has different responsibilities. Depending on the size of the association, one person may have the responsibilities of the treasurer and secretary.
Term limits of usually two or three years are imposed on all board members. However, it’s fairly common for a board member to hold a lower level position one year and then a higher position such as president the next.
How to Become a Candidate for an HOA or COA Position
If you’d like to get on the ballot for a COA or HOA election, you must gather the number of member signatures required by your association. You must then file a notice of intent stating you would like to be a candidate for the upcoming election. Every individual community will have different bylaws governing the nomination process.
If you want to get on your association’s board, you should make sure you are regularly attending your association’s meetings so you have a thorough understanding of what’s at stake. You should also study the community bylaws as well as the neighborhood’s contract with the property management company. Of course, being a well-respected and well-known member of the community who pays their dues on time and obeys the community’s rules is also important.
How LM Funding Can Improve Your Association
If you’re running for office or elected to a position on your HOA or COA board, one of the things you’ll have to have a plan for is delinquent assessments. Collecting assessments is the life blood of a community. LM Funding can provide your community with a no cost plan to stabilize your community’s collections. If you want to learn more, contact us today!