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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. Confirm with your association's attorney before a binding vote.
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.
Running a District of Columbia vote with VoteStead
Available now, with attorney sign-off
VoteStead runs District of Columbia elections with a District of Columbia rule pack. Before a binding vote, the board confirms the state's required steps in the admin console. Until VoteStead's review of District of Columbia law is complete, a binding vote also needs a sign-off letter from your association's attorney. Test elections run without it.
No VoteStead features are turned off by District of Columbia law.
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
- Quorum tracking 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 supports mailed voting notices with access codes for owners who get their mail on paper.
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 District of Columbia rule pack. Features the state does not allow are turned off. Until VoteStead's review of District of Columbia law is complete, a binding vote needs a sign-off letter from the association's attorney. Test elections run without it.