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Kentucky HOA and condo electronic voting law
Can a homeowners or condominium association in Kentucky hold its vote online? Here is what state law says and what it means for your board.
Only if your governing documents allow it
Status: Documents (HOAs), Nonprofit act (condos). Main law: KRS 381.792(4)(b), 273.195.
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 | Governing documents must allow it (Documents (HOAs), Nonprofit act (condos)) |
|---|---|
| Main statute | KRS 381.792(4)(b), 273.195 |
| How electronic voting gets authorized | Declaration or bylaws must provide the option |
| Secret ballot and counting | No state rule found. Check your governing documents. |
| Paper ballot option | State law does not say |
| Ballot retention | State law does not set a period |
State law leaves electronic voting to your governing documents. Check your declaration, bylaws and articles. If they do not authorize electronic ballots, amend them before a binding online vote.
Which Kentucky rules apply to your association
| Your community | Law that governs the vote | What VoteStead requires |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner associations | Governing documents must allow it KRS 381.792(4)(b) | 1 step the board confirms before a binding vote |
| Condominium associations | Through the nonprofit corporation act KRS 273.195 | 2 steps the board confirms before a binding vote |
What Kentucky law requires, and what VoteStead does
The association's declaration, bylaws or articles expressly authorize electronic ballots. KRS 381.792(4)(b)
VoteStead: The board confirms this on the launch checklist before a binding vote opens. If the documents do not authorize electronic ballots, amend them first. The confirmation goes into the audit log.
The association is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in this state. KRS 273.195
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. KRS 273.195
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.
Ballot records
Kentucky 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 Kentucky
- The association's declaration, bylaws or articles expressly authorize electronic ballots
- The association is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in this state
- The association's declaration, bylaws and articles do not prohibit electronic voting
- 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 Kentucky rule pack. A summary, not legal advice. Your association and its attorney confirm what applies to your community.
Running a Kentucky vote with VoteStead
Available now
VoteStead runs Kentucky 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 Kentucky law.
Your responsibility for Kentucky law
Your association, and any management company acting for it, is responsible for confirming that each vote complies with Kentucky law, county and city rules, and your governing documents. This page and the Kentucky 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
Kentucky questions
Can an HOA or condo association in Kentucky vote online?
Only if your governing documents allow it (Documents (HOAs), Nonprofit act (condos)). How it gets authorized: Declaration or bylaws must provide the option. Main law: KRS 381.792(4)(b), 273.195. Reviewed September 16, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are the Kentucky secret ballot and vote counting rules?
The review found no Kentucky statute requiring secret ballots for these votes. Your governing documents may require one. VoteStead seals every ballot so nobody sees how an owner voted.
Do owners in Kentucky keep a paper ballot option?
Kentucky law does not say. Your association can turn on paper ballots for any election. VoteStead prints the packets, logs each returned envelope and counts paper ballots with the online ones.
How long must a Kentucky association keep ballots?
Kentucky 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 Kentucky associations?
Yes. VoteStead runs Kentucky 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 Kentucky and local law and its governing documents.