EXECUTIVE
Tony Campisi | Chapter Executive Director
tony@cai-padelval.org
An Assault on Voting
Legislation was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on August 18 that will upend voting in Pennsylvania’s community associations.
There’s no way to mince words here – this is an assault on voting in Pennsylvania’s community associations that is a solution in search of a problem.
The Bill, sponsored by Representative Rosemary Brown, who has been an ally on other CAI legislative priorities, would:
Restrict voting in an association election to one method for all voters. In other words, if the association opts for in-person voting on paper ballots, anyone traveling or away for an extended period of time would not be permitted to vote electronically. This will disenfranchise voters.
Impose criminal penalties, including fines up to $10,000 and jail time up to 5 years, for “interfering” in an association election, without bothering to define what the term “interfering” means. This provision alone is a job creation program for attorneys.
Impose a two-thirds vote to change association by-laws, a difficult hurdle for an
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association, many of which already have a difficult time getting unit owners to participate in association elections and other association business such as changing bylaws.
Require associations to call a special meeting, triggering quorum requirements, within seven days of an election, for the sole purpose of introducing candidates for the board to the owners. Associations will now need to reach quorum for a meeting for owners to meet the candidates and reach quorum again days later for the election.
Require an association to hire an attorney, certified public accountant, or utilize a “vote management system” (undefined in the Bill) for each election,
thereby adding significant costs to the association.
CAI met with Representative Brown several times over a period of more than a year and offered amendments to the legislation, including requesting provisions to permit electronic meetings and voting, which many associations have had to resort to during the pandemic. None of CAI’s recommendations were included in the legislation.
CAI’s Pennsylvania Legislative Action Committee is opposed to this bill and will keep you informed of efforts to amend or defeat the legislation.
Please consider a donation to the LAC today to help fight this onerous legislation. Visit
www.cai-padelval.org/advocate/ support-our-efforts to make a donation.
DIRECTOR’SREPORT
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