Home / State laws / Virginia
Virginia HOA and condo electronic voting law
Can a homeowners or condominium association in Virginia 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: Va. Code 55.1-1832, 55.1-1935, 55.1-1815(H).
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 |
|---|---|
| Main statute | Va. Code 55.1-1832, 55.1-1935, 55.1-1815(H) |
| How electronic voting gets authorized | Allowed unless documents expressly prohibit. POA Act needs board guidelines |
| Secret ballot and counting | Electronic means must protect voter identity or switch methods |
| Paper ballot option | Yes, reasonable alternative at association expense |
| Ballot retention | Same as paper records |
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 Virginia vote with VoteStead
Available now, with attorney sign-off
VoteStead runs Virginia elections with a Virginia rule pack. Before a binding vote, the board confirms the state's required steps in the admin console. Until VoteStead's review of Virginia 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 Virginia 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
Virginia questions
Can an HOA or condo association in Virginia vote online?
Yes. State law expressly allows electronic voting. How it gets authorized: Allowed unless documents expressly prohibit. POA Act needs board guidelines. Main law: Va. Code 55.1-1832, 55.1-1935, 55.1-1815(H). Reviewed September 16, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are the Virginia secret ballot and vote counting rules?
Virginia rule on secrecy and counting: Electronic means must protect voter identity or switch methods. VoteStead seals every ballot on the owner's device and stores it with no name attached.
Do owners in Virginia keep a paper ballot option?
Virginia rule: Yes, reasonable alternative at association expense. VoteStead supports mailed voting notices with access codes for owners who get their mail on paper.
How long must a Virginia association keep ballots?
Virginia retention rule: Same as paper records. VoteStead keeps sealed ballots for 1 year after voting closes by default, and a legal hold keeps them longer.
Is VoteStead available for Virginia associations?
Yes. VoteStead runs Virginia elections with a Virginia rule pack. Features the state does not allow are turned off. Until VoteStead's review of Virginia law is complete, a binding vote needs a sign-off letter from the association's attorney. Test elections run without it.