Torres Introduces Legislation to Increase Voter Participation in Community Associations

Torres Introduces Legislation to Increase Voter Participation in Community Associations through Electronic Balloting
 
March 5, 2013 - PRLog -- GRANITE BAY, Calif. – Assemblymember Norma Torres, chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, today introduced a bill that would permit the use of electronic voting to add an additional option to election procedures and reduce costs for community associations.

AB 1360 (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_1351-1400/ab_1360_bill_20130222_introduced.html) (Torres), sponsored by the Community Association Institute’s California Legislative Action Committee (CAI-CLAC) (http://www.caicalif.org/), would help ensure more people in community associations have an opportunity to participate in the electoral process and for their voices to be heard.

“Community associations are powered by the people that live in the communities and it’s important that they are involved in the decision making process,” Torres said. “This bill is part of our effort to modernize the democratic process for community associations and will help increase involvement while reducing costs.”

Currently, common interest development association elections are subject to specific procedures, which are more restrictive than other non-profit corporations. In 2006, SB 1560 passed and although it was designed to improve the way elections were performed, it also dramatically increased costs, as the entire election process must be now be repeated until a quorum is achieved. This forces associations to spend thousands of dollars each year to conduct elections, which could instead be used to help maintain properties and the interests of community members.

AB 1360 (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_1351-1400...) (Torres) would safeguard and enhance the electoral process for community associations, preserve resources and reduce costs, which can be used to fund other much-needed services and, ultimately, help protect property values.

“We applaud Assemblymember Norma Torres for her efforts in ensuring community association homeowners can easily participate in elections through third-party electronic balloting, helping to increase security, participation and involvement,” said CAI-CLAC Chair Pamela Voit. “It’s important that we embrace today’s technology and provide convenience to our members, so that associations can refocus resources on maintaining their communities.”

About CAI-CLAC

Community Associations Institute, or CAI, is an international organization providing education and resources to community associations, their volunteer leaders, and the industries that serve them.  CAI's California Legislative Action Committee, CLAC, advocates the interests of the over 45,000 community associations in California and educates legislators about homeowner association living and governance.  CLAC's delegates, appointed by the eight CAI chapters in California, include homeowner volunteers, community association managers, and other industry professionals.
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Tags:Cai-clac, Norma Torres, Ab 1360, Electronic Balloting, SB 1560
Industry:Real Estate, Government
Location:Granite Bay - California - United States
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