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Electronic Voting
WAL ELECTION COMMITTEE EXPLORES E-VOTING FOR 2022
By Butch Hodges, WAL Elections Committee Chair
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In the July 2021 edition of the Wheel, Board President Phil Schrock provided a status report of the Elections Committee, which has been tasked with researching, testing, and, if feasible, implementing electronic voting, which is now permitted by condominium associations thanks to a Virginia law which took effect in July. Wikipedia defines electronic voting (also known as “e-voting”) as “voting that uses electronic means to either aid or take care of casting and counting votes.” The e-voting option has been bantered about by Watergate unit owners and the Board for three years. Now, we endeavor to realize e-voting as an alternative means for members to cast their ballot in 2022.
Our committee has chosen the moniker “EC 45” to distinguish our newly appointed Elections team from the prior one that performed so well leading up to the 44th Annual Condominium Unit Owners’ Association meeting last March.
Why E-Voting?
One of EC 45’s key objectives is to help prepare unit owners for a very different board election in 2022. Of course, by implementing e-voting sooner than later, Watergate can be better prepared to work around conditions (e.g. COVID -19) that could adversely impact in-person ballot casting in the future. Adversity aside, our research has revealed that homeowners’ associations report significantly higher election participation rates and a greater likelihood of achieving quorum when using e-voting platforms. For example, one local owners’ association achieved a 70% voting rate, thereby far exceeding their quorum requirement. WAL’s ability to provide this alternative to its residents promises similar improved functionality and efficiency.
What’s the Plan?
Prior to seeking the Board’s approval to implement this capability, EC 45 will research, analyze, test and then recommend to the Board, “Go or No Go with e-voting” in fiscal year 2022. If approved, the e-voting option will be thoroughly documented in an updated version of the WAL voting guidelines and instructions.
In the future, voters will be able to use a variety of web browsers to cast their vote should they so desire. We will require from the selected vendor a secure, accurate, private, auditable, cost-effective and ecologically sustainable internet website for voters to submit their ballots. EC 45 has already narrowed the field and is prepared to recommend an experienced, successful e-voting service provider to the Board of Directors.
Will There Still Be Paper Ballots?
We recognize that newer technologies and processes can be intimidating—if not inaccessible—to some. Rest assured we will continue to provide paper notifications, paper/proxy ballots and the same means for casting your vote as we have done in the past. There will still be ballot boxes in each building lobby and near Resident Services in the Community Center. The League of Women Voters will still tally the ballots and ensure privacy. Once unit owners have acclimated to the e-voting process and become confident in the use of the e-voting platform, we anticipate the need for paper ballots will diminish, with the happy result of further reducing the cost of future elections.
One Step at a Time
The members of EC 45 (Aleena Hampton, Leyla Seyidova, Vivian Moran, Carolyn Winters, Frank Winters, Carol Weber, Patricia Espinet, Rob Blitzer, Karen McKinney, and Greg Wade) know from their experiences in assessing e-voting providers that some familiarization with the process will be necessary, so please stay tuned to WAL communications media for future updates. We have already gotten an early start on our work in preparation for the 45th Annual Election. After all, our goal is to transition to e-voting with care and make it as seamless as possible for our community.
