Starting October 1, 2025, a major update to Maryland's HOA and condo laws will take effect. Maryland’s House Bill 1534 takes direct aim at one of the most sensitive aspects of condominium and homeowners association (HOA) governance: elections.
What Maryland HOA Boards Should Know About the New Law
Under HB 1534, elections for the governing body (board of directors, officers, etc.) must be overseen by an independent party. This is a major change: it prevents candidates, current board members, or management companies from controlling the process.
The law specifies that the “independent party” may include:
- A third-party vendor or technology provider hired by the association to conduct the election.
- Another unit or lot owner who is not campaigning for any candidate, does not have a conflict of interest, and is not objected to by more than 25% of eligible voters.
Importantly, representatives of the condominium’s or HOA’s property management are not considered independent parties. The governing body may retain a third-party vendor or a commercial technology online voting platform to conduct an election.
Is Your HOA Election System Compliant?
To legally hold online HOA elections in Maryland, associations must use a platform that meets the following requirements:
- Verifiable voter identity
- Third-party administration
- Anonymity when required
- Audit-friendly election results
This bill introduces new safeguards designed to ensure credibility, independence, and owner confidence in the process. Simply Voting fully meets these requirements, offering secure, anonymous, and independently managed elections for HOAs and condo associations.
Why Switch to Online Voting for Your Maryland HOA?
Online voting system offers several advantages:
- Faster election processes
- Higher participation from homeowners
- Improved election security and transparency
- Cost savings vs. paper ballots and manual administration
How Simply Voting Can Help
One of the strongest ways to comply with HB 1534’s new election rules is to bring in a trusted, independent third party. At Simply Voting, HOA or condo association elections can be overseen by a dedicated project manager who guides the process from start to finish.
That means:
- Personalized support: Your project manager understands your community’s bylaws and tailors the election setup to fit your rules.
- Neutral oversight: Because Simply Voting is independent, you avoid conflicts of interest and ensure fairness.
- Professional execution: From setting up ballots to distributing credentials to monitoring results, your project manager handles the details.
- Transparency & trust: Owners know the process is secure, impartial, and verifiable.
This hands-on support gives associations peace of mind that their elections not only comply with the new law but also run smoothly and credibly.
Start Running Secure HOA Elections in Maryland
Ready to make your next election fair, transparent, and stress-free? Contact Simply Voting today to learn how our dedicated project managers can help your community comply with Maryland’s new law and run smoother elections.
