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Illinois HOA and condo electronic voting law
Can a homeowners or condominium association in Illinois hold its vote online? Here is what state law says and what it means for your board.
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting
Main law: 765 ILCS 160/1-25, 605/18, 605/18.8.
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 |
|---|---|
| Main statute | 765 ILCS 160/1-25, 605/18, 605/18.8 |
| How electronic voting gets authorized | Board rules. Condo rule adopted 120 days ahead, 20% owner petition to reject |
| Secret ballot and counting | Condo secret ballot by board rule. No proxies in board elections |
| Paper ballot option | Owners without written consent served without technology |
| Ballot retention | 1 year (HOA), 12 months (condo) |
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 Illinois rules apply to your association
| Your community | Law that governs the vote | What VoteStead requires |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner associations | Allowed by statute 765 ILCS 160/1-25 | 2 steps the board confirms before a binding vote |
| Condominium associations | Allowed by statute 765 ILCS 605/18, 605/18.8 | 2 steps the board confirms before a binding vote |
What Illinois law requires, and what VoteStead does
The board adopted a resolution or rule authorizing electronic voting. 765 ILCS 160/1-25
VoteStead: The board confirms the resolution on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens. Keep the resolution with the association records.
Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting vote by paper. 765 ILCS 160/1-25
VoteStead: Paper ballots are always on for this state. VoteStead prints the packets with a secret ballot envelope, logs each returned envelope and counts paper ballots with the online ones.
The board adopted the electronic voting rule at least 120 days before the election, and no petition of 20% of owners rejected it. 765 ILCS 605/18.8
VoteStead: The board confirms this step on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens, and the confirmation goes into the audit log.
Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting are served without the technology, by paper. 765 ILCS 605/18.8
VoteStead: Paper ballots are always on for this state. VoteStead prints the packets with a secret ballot envelope, logs each returned envelope and counts paper ballots with the online ones.
Ballot records
Illinois rule: 1 year (HOA), 12 months (condo).
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 Illinois
- The board adopted a resolution or rule authorizing electronic voting
- Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting vote by paper
- The board adopted the electronic voting rule at least 120 days before the election, and no petition of 20% of owners rejected it
- Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting are served without the technology, by paper
- 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 Illinois rule pack. A summary, not legal advice. Your association and its attorney confirm what applies to your community.
Running a Illinois vote with VoteStead
Available now
VoteStead runs Illinois 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.
Features Illinois law turns off or changes
- Homeowner associations: Paper ballots always on. Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting vote by paper. (765 ILCS 160/1-25) VoteStead prints the paper ballot packets and counts returned ballots with the online ones.
- Condominiums: Paper ballots always on. Owners who have not given written consent to electronic voting are served without the technology, by paper. (765 ILCS 605/18.8) VoteStead prints the paper ballot packets and counts returned ballots with the online ones.
Your responsibility for Illinois law
Your association, and any management company acting for it, is responsible for confirming that each vote complies with Illinois law, county and city rules, and your governing documents. This page and the Illinois 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
Illinois questions
Can an HOA or condo association in Illinois vote online?
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting. How it gets authorized: Board rules. Condo rule adopted 120 days ahead, 20% owner petition to reject. Main law: 765 ILCS 160/1-25, 605/18, 605/18.8. Reviewed September 16, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are the Illinois secret ballot and vote counting rules?
Illinois rule on secrecy and counting: Condo secret ballot by board rule. No proxies in board elections. VoteStead seals every ballot on the owner's device and stores it with no name attached.
Do owners in Illinois keep a paper ballot option?
Illinois rule: Owners without written consent served without technology. 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 Illinois association keep ballots?
Illinois retention rule: 1 year (HOA), 12 months (condo). VoteStead keeps sealed ballots for 1 year after voting closes by default, and a legal hold keeps them longer.
Is VoteStead available for Illinois associations?
Yes. VoteStead runs Illinois 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 Illinois and local law and its governing documents.