BOD election - several ballots returned to sender

Started by FranceneK • 10 replies • 1156 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

FranceneK (Florida)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Good morning,
I am brand new here...I have an important question and would appreciate any help offered.
Our BOD elections are coming up this Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. There have been "several" ballots which have been returned to sender due to the return address labels being in the way of the bar code.
We have 785 townhouse units here and many people are concerned that their ballots will not be received on time due to this screw up. We cannot get a straight answer as to just how many ballots were RTS, just told 'several'.
Is there anything at all the homeowners can do about this?

Thanks in advance

FranceneK (Florida)
Posts: 2

Posted:

So sorry, I failed to mention that I am from Panama City Beach, Florida.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By FranceneK on 10/09/2017 7:11 AM

Is there anything at all the homeowners can do about this?

Thanks in advance

Yes.

The simplest thing would be to contact the Board and inform them you did not receive a ballot.

If you received your ballot and concerned others did not, do a quick flyer and deliver them door to door asking owners who did not receive ballots to contact the Board.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

I think Francene is saying that people DID receive their ballots but sending them in, after filling them out, failed due to sloppy return envelope addressing.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I don't know, Geno, what this bar code is Francene is referring to. A way to keep track of ballots??? I don't know why it matters.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

I think it's a USPS thing you can do in order to get a discount on postage. If you pay the discount rate then if the barcode isn't readable they're not going to "manually" read what's on the address label in order to deliver it. But I'm just speculating.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GenoS on 10/09/2017 5:21 PM
I think Francene is saying that people DID receive their ballots but sending them in, after filling them out, failed due to sloppy return envelope addressing.

Francene, you hace a RIGHT to witness the ballot counting, your HOA should have a must have time where you can physically drop off your ballot at the office.

Geno, I have the same reservation about the "secret ballot" if ballots are secret why is the homeowners name on the return address portion of the mailing envelope.
I suggested to the BOD that the managing company name and address should be on both the mail to and sender. Surprisingly they agreed and it was changed.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

CA HOAs require that printed & signed name of the voter & their HOA address be on the outer envelope. But we have an inner envelope that only the inspectors of election see. Perhaps, LetA, FL r squires the double envelope too for these secret ballots.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 10/10/2017 9:24 AM
CA HOAs require that printed & signed name of the voter & their HOA address be on the outer envelope. But we have an inner envelope that only the inspectors of election see. Perhaps, LetA, FL r squires the double envelope too for these secret ballots.

So much for "secret ballots"

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

In CA and maybe in FL, too, the inspectors of election read the outer envelope and check a list to show that Mr. x voted. This keeps voters from voting more than once and assure us the ballot is legitimate. Then all the outer envelopes are opened and the completely unmarked inner, sealed envelopes are shuffled. After that. they are opened and the votes are tallied by these inspectors. Any member of the HOA may watch this entire procedure that's done in our common area lobby.

How are they not secret ballots? How are HOA ballots counted in NV?

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Florida's condo law requires ballot counting almost identical to what Kerry describes. Florida's HOA law leaves it up to the association's bylaws.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here