Ways to Increase Voting Turnout

I don’t know Florida’s rules about absentee votes or proxies, but if you can use those, going door to door and asking for either of those is the most effective way to get them, in my experience.

IF, you have restrictions in your CCRs, what are the amendments for?

We just got approval for a total re-write of our 40 year old governing documents. Including planning this was roughly a year and half effort. Some of the things we did that I believe helped get the vote out were:

1.) We used Survey Monkey to get feedback on some of the things we wanted to change. The ones that the vast majority of owners did not want, we took out of our draft. (Pick your battles wisely.)

2.) We held multiple Zoom meetings where we gave a presentation on why the docs needed re-writing and we then took questions. I was surprised how many owners actually attended.

3.) Over the last year we sent out community wide emails roughly twice a month that each went over specific items we wanted to add or change and we educated them on why it was needed. Each email was sent using a generic Gmail board account. We ended each message by telling the recipient to please respond back with any thoughts or comments that they might have. We received a lot of good feedback that helped us determine the reasons that some people were resistant. Once we knew why we tailored future communications to address these issues.

4.) During the last 6 months of the effort we posted educational flyers on the community mailbox stands with different messages that stated how the proposed new docs would benefit every owner. For example, limiting rentals, adding a .5% Capital Improvement Fee on all home sales that would go directly into our reserve funds, etc. ( In our case reserve funds were historically ignored resulting in special assessments and inadequate maintenance. We played on this fear and reminded them what happened as a result.) The generic email address was posted for feedback.

5.) On the last day of voting we set up camp in the clubhouse and encouraged people to come by and ask any last minute questions they might have before dropping off their vote. I think we picked up about 20 votes that morning which ended up being key.

The bottom line is communication, communication and education and education! You have to be able to convince people on why the changes will end up being to their benefit. Even though in our case there were serious legal issues with our old docs that is not what sold people on the new docs. If they don't hear, "what's in it for me?" they don't care enough to vote.

JohnT what an effort!!! I feel like KEEP GOING and educate more. Survey Monkey is a great resource I hadn’t considered.

I'm going to print JohnT's list for our upcoming attempt to get 67% owner approval to rewrite our 20 y.o. CC&Rs. We also will have some healthy gift certificate incentives.

An example, Carissa, of a rule your Board might make: The CC&Rs will continue to specify that each lot must have 2 trees & their location. A rule would specify the minimum height of a replacement tree and perhaps offer options of a few types.

Here's another example. Our CC&Rs allow owners to keep no more than two dogs or two cats or one of each. In ur high rise HOA, Re dogs: Our rules are more specific about incessant barking prohibitions, dogs may never be locked out on balconies, must be kept on a leash in the control of its caregiver, are not allowed in the pool area or gym, droppings must be picked up, etc. etc.