Vote of President

Just a quick question for all you board presidents. I live in Fla and was just elected board president and have much to learn. We follow Robert Rules of Order and our management co said that I can vote on everything; however, I thought the president votes only when it is a tie vote. I've checked our docs and do not see where it is addressed. How do other HOAs handle this. Thanks for you input!!

I am a former President of a Homeowner's Association. First, you must remember you are also a MEMBER of the HOA and NOT just the President so you still have your INDIVIDUAL member vote. (As long as your up to date on your dues!). Your "Presidential" vote is different. You really don't get 2 votes. Same applies to the board members.
There are 2 types of "voting" in your HOA. The first is "Membership" voting. This is where a MAJORITY vote of homeowners have their say. These votes typically involve electing board members, special assessment allowances, kicking out BOD, and rule changes etc...
The 2nd type of "voting" is what the board does amongst itself. The general membership votes the members of the BOD in to REPRESENT their needs and handle the daily operations of the HOA itself. Could you imagine trying to have 100 members have to vote each time a light bulb needed changed in the front entrance?
So, as an individual homeowner you still have the right to vote when the "Majority" vote is needed. However, you also have a "Vote" when your board vote is tied or is needed to make a decision. A Board vote is separate.
Anytime you get confused think of our own U.S. Government and how it works. (Just leave out the House of Representatives). Your board members are like the Senate, you are the President, and the general members are the United States people. The judicial part (Supreme Court) can be your entire board or the ACC!
Good luck! I was president for 3 years! Every day is a challenge! Just make the job part of you and things will go much smoother. I took the approach that it was a "ThankFULL job, and NOT ThankLESS job". Do the job well enough and you will never go hungry! The members will always have a "plate" ready for you at their dinner tables if you do things right.

The president may vote on all issues the same as other directors.

The president may, if he/she chooses wish to only vote in the case of a tie. That is optional, and it is meant to show impartiality.

MarkC3,

No, it is not correct, unless your by-laws and state laws require it. Understand, each state, and each association has different rules, there is not one universal set of by-laws. HOA talk has members in many different states, therefore, you will see many different sets of rules.

My personal opinion is that the President should vote on all issues, not just when there is a tie. It is the most impartial way to conduct business.

Best of success!!
GeraldT1
NNJ

In our association, the directors are elected by the membership and then decide among themselves who holds which office. I don't know why anyone would agree to be president if he or she lost their vote because of their office.

RudyH

There are a number of books on Robert's Rules of Order, but only one is published by an association of parliamentarians. The website is . Their publication is "The Scott,Foresman Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised", or RONR for short. I think the latest edition is the 10th. The book includes a section on procedures for board, and a specific section for small boards described by RogerB. The quotation from my 9th edition is "The chairman can speak in discussion without rising or leaving the chair; and, subject to rule or custom with the particular board (which should be uniformly followed regardless of how many members are presentn), he usually can make motions and usually votes on all questions."