Terms of Service

Agreement

These terms apply to anyone who uses votestead.com or a Votestead election. Votestead is operated by Alientech Services LLC. By using the service, you agree to these terms. An association that signs a separate written agreement with us follows that agreement where it differs from these terms.

The service

Votestead provides online and paper-notice voting for homeowner and condominium associations. The service sends invitations and reminders, verifies owners, collects sealed ballots, counts them after 2 key holders enter their shares, and produces results and audit records. Self-serve elections are run by the association's board. Managed elections are run by Votestead for the association.

Association duties

• Confirm the association has authority to hold the vote electronically under its governing documents and applicable law.
• Provide an accurate owner roster and keep it current before voting opens.
• Give owners any notice the governing documents or law require, and offer paper ballots to owners who do not consent to electronic voting.
• Choose key holders who are not candidates, not board members up for election and not the association's managing agent.
• Provide an attorney sign-off letter before a binding vote opens when the rule pack for the association's state requires one.
• Obtain consent before giving Votestead an owner's mobile number for text messages.

Owner duties

• Vote only for a unit you own or are authorized to vote for.
• Keep your voting link, sign-in codes, access code and PIN private.
• Review your choices before you cast. A cast ballot is final.

Key shares

The key that opens an election's ballots is split into 3 shares. Any 2 shares open the count. Votestead does not keep a copy of a complete key. If 2 or more shares are lost, the ballots cannot be opened and the association must hold the vote again. Key holders are responsible for saving their shares.

Test elections

Test elections are for practice. They are marked as tests on every page and their results are not binding.

Text message program

Votestead Election Notices sends text messages about association elections, including voting invitations, sign-in codes and reminders. Message frequency varies by election. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Consent to receive texts is not a condition of voting, and owners who do not opt in vote by email or mailed notice. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle mobile numbers.

Acceptable use

• Do not vote for a unit you are not authorized to vote for.
• Do not try to access another person's account, ballot, key share or voting link.
• Do not probe, overload or disrupt the service during a live election. Report security issues to security@votestead.com.
• Do not use the service to send messages unrelated to an association vote.

No legal advice

Votestead is not a law firm. Our rule packs, guides and support explain how the service applies state election rules, and they are not legal advice. Each association relies on its own attorney for legal questions.

Fees

Test elections are free. Fees for self-serve and managed elections are set in a written quote accepted by the association before a binding election opens.

Independence

Votestead does not act as managing agent for, or sell other paid services to, an association whose election it runs.

Disclaimers and liability

We work to keep the service available and accurate, but we provide it as is and do not promise it will be free of interruptions. To the extent the law allows, Votestead is not liable for indirect or consequential damages, and our total liability for any election is limited to the fees the association paid for that election.

Governing law

Washington State law governs these terms. Disputes go to the state or federal courts located in Washington State.

Changes

We post changes to these terms on this page with a new version number and effective date. Changes do not apply to an election already open.

Contact us

Email questions about these terms to support@votestead.com.