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District of Columbia HOA and condo electronic voting law
Can a homeowners or condominium association in District of Columbia hold its vote online? Here is what state law says and what it means for your board.
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting
Status: Express (condos), Nonprofit act (HOAs). Main law: DC Code 42-1903.05(g), 29-405.09.
Reviewed September 16, 2026. A summary of state law, not legal advice. Each association, and any management company acting for it, is responsible for confirming with its own attorney that a vote complies with state and local law and its governing documents. See our Terms of Service.
The rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed by statute (Express (condos), Nonprofit act (HOAs)) |
|---|---|
| Main statute | DC Code 42-1903.05(g), 29-405.09 |
| How electronic voting gets authorized | Board authorizes, overriding condo instruments. Process open to all owners |
| Secret ballot and counting | Printed secret ballots if e-anonymity fails |
| Paper ballot option | Only in that secret ballot case |
| Ballot retention | State law does not set a period |
A state statute speaks to electronic voting for community associations. Read how it gets authorized below: some statutes let the board decide, some require each owner to consent, and some let governing documents opt out.
Which District of Columbia rules apply to your association
| Your community | Law that governs the vote | What VoteStead requires |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner associations | Through the nonprofit corporation act DC Code 29-405.09 | 2 steps the board confirms before a binding vote |
| Condominium associations | Allowed by statute DC Code 42-1903.05(g) | 2 steps the board confirms before a binding vote |
What District of Columbia law requires, and what VoteStead does
The association is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in this state. DC Code 29-405.09
VoteStead: VoteStead checks the association record. An association not marked as incorporated needs an attorney sign-off letter before a binding vote.
The association's declaration, bylaws and articles do not prohibit electronic voting. DC Code 29-405.09
VoteStead: The board confirms this on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens. The confirmation, with who made it, goes into the audit log.
The board adopted a resolution or rule authorizing electronic voting. DC Code 42-1903.05(g)
VoteStead: The board confirms the resolution on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens. Keep the resolution with the association records.
The electronic voting process is open to all owners. DC Code 42-1903.05(g)
VoteStead: The board confirms this step on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens, and the confirmation goes into the audit log.
Ballot records
District of Columbia law does not set a retention period. Your documents and association records rules govern.
VoteStead keeps the certified result and the audit log, and deletes sealed ballots and voting credentials 1 year after voting closes by default. Ask for a longer hold and we keep them longer. Where your state sets a longer records period, that period applies to the records your association keeps, and the certified result and audit log are what you file.
Before your first online vote in District of Columbia
- The association is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in this state
- The association's declaration, bylaws and articles do not prohibit electronic voting
- The board adopted a resolution or rule authorizing electronic voting
- The electronic voting process is open to all owners
- Collect owner emails and mobile numbers, and mailing addresses for everyone else
- Choose 3 key holders who are not candidates, not board members up for election and not the managing agent
Built from VoteStead's District of Columbia rule pack. A summary, not legal advice. Your association and its attorney confirm what applies to your community.
Running a District of Columbia vote with VoteStead
Available now
VoteStead runs District of Columbia elections with a rule pack that apply the state's consent, secret ballot and records rules. VoteStead's counsel reviewed it. The launch checklist blocks voting until the board confirms the required steps.
No VoteStead features are turned off by District of Columbia law.
Your responsibility for District of Columbia law
Your association, and any management company acting for it, is responsible for confirming that each vote complies with District of Columbia law, county and city rules, and your governing documents. This page and the District of Columbia rule pack summarize state law as of the reviewed date and do not cover local rules or your own documents. Have your attorney confirm your authority and your notice, quorum and counting rules before a binding vote. VoteStead is not responsible for a vote found invalid because of those determinations. See our Terms of Service.
What every VoteStead election includes
- Ballots sealed on the owner's device and stored with no name attached
- A 2-of-3 key split, so nobody opens ballots before voting closes
- Email and text invitations, plus mailed notices with access codes
- A live turnout board, quorum proxies and automatic reminders to owners who have not voted
- A tracker code so each owner confirms their ballot counted
District of Columbia questions
Can an HOA or condo association in District of Columbia vote online?
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting (Express (condos), Nonprofit act (HOAs)). How it gets authorized: Board authorizes, overriding condo instruments. Process open to all owners. Main law: DC Code 42-1903.05(g), 29-405.09. Reviewed September 16, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are the District of Columbia secret ballot and vote counting rules?
District of Columbia rule on secrecy and counting: Printed secret ballots if e-anonymity fails. VoteStead seals every ballot on the owner's device and stores it with no name attached.
Do owners in District of Columbia keep a paper ballot option?
District of Columbia rule: Only in that secret ballot case. VoteStead prints paper ballot packets with a secret ballot envelope, logs each returned envelope and counts paper ballots with the online ones.
How long must a District of Columbia association keep ballots?
District of Columbia law does not set a period for these ballots. VoteStead keeps sealed ballots for 1 year after voting closes by default.
Is VoteStead available for District of Columbia associations?
Yes. VoteStead runs District of Columbia elections with a rule pack for the state's community association law, reviewed by VoteStead's counsel. Features the state does not allow are turned off. Your association, and any management company acting for it, remains responsible for confirming each vote complies with District of Columbia and local law and its governing documents.