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For the second consecutive day, an article on important issues for community associations authored by one of our firm’s partners appeared today as a guest column in the Daily Business Review, South Florida’s only business daily and official court newspaper. Partner Michael E. Chapnick with our West Palm Beach office wrote the article in today’s edition of the newspaper about the new electronic voting law for community associations. His article calls for the state’s Division of Condominiums to establish an approval and certification process for the e-voting systems providers. It reads:
“Properly implemented, electronic voting may enable associations to overcome the significant challenges created by so many investor-owned units and part-time residents who frequently do not participate in association votes, making it difficult for many associations to achieve quorum at members’ meetings and elections so that membership action can be taken.
However, there are some important and necessary measures that were built into the new law which will make the initial implementation of electronic voting extremely challenging for many associations.
With the voter identity verification and security protocols that are called for under the new law, online voting for associations will not be as simple as using an existing off-the-shelf electronic survey provider and adapting it for an association vote.
In fact, the vetting process for the vendors purporting to comply with all of the requirements under the new law will take some time, and the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Condominiums should move quickly to develop a vetting and certification process in order to help all of the associations in Florida to identify the providers that are in compliance with the statutory requirements.”
Michael’s article concludes:
“However, rather than leaving it up to every community association to conduct its own vetting process in order to determine which providers meet all of the law’s requirements, the onus should be on the state agency that oversees and enforces association election regulations as well as the other laws governing associations in Florida to create and implement a new vendor approval and certification process for the providers. The state’s Division of Condominiums is better equipped with the technical resources and expertise that is necessary to properly review and determine whether these online software application providers are implementing e-voting systems that meet all of the requirements and should be certified by the state for use by associations.
Electronic voting will not be a panacea for all of the issues caused by unit owner apathy and absenteeism in association votes and elections. There are many voters who will decline to use it and will wish to continue mailing in the completed ballots or voting in person at the meetings, so it is unlikely to completely replace the traditional voting methods, at least in the near future. It will, however, give the associations an important new tool for their toolbox that should greatly enhance their ability to conduct annual elections and obtain votes regarding alterations, amendments, reserves and other important association matters that require membership approval.
With the help of an effective approval and certification program for the e-voting system providers by the state, associations will be able to turn to electronic voting to help overcome some of the challenges that have plagued their votes and elections for decades.”
Our firm congratulates Michael for sharing his insight with the readers of the Daily Business Review on this important new law for community associations and calling on the state to enact an approval and certification process for the e-voting systems providers. Click here to read the complete article in the newspaper’s website (registration required).
