Have you noticed that when election season rolls around in your community, residents just don’t seem interested in voting? For many HOA and condo boards, this is a constant challenge: getting enough people involved to reach quorum and validate the process. Low voter turnout is a recurring issue, but there’s one thing that can make a real difference—getting residents to know the candidates.
When homeowners feel connected to the candidates, or at least know who they are and what they stand for, they’re far more likely to participate. Because at the end of the day, everyone wants to feel like their voice matters and that the community’s decisions are in capable hands.
Why Knowing the Candidates Makes a Difference
Elections aren’t just another formality on the calendar; they’re an opportunity for the community to be heard and to choose who will make key decisions that impact everyone’s daily lives. But if homeowners don’t know the candidates or understand their goals, it’s easy for them to feel disconnected and lose interest in participating.
How Knowing the Candidates Benefits Your Community:
- Build Trust: When candidates are open about their goals and vision, homeowners are more likely to trust them and the election process.
- Strengthen the Sense of Community: Facilitating interactions between candidates and homeowners fosters a sense of belonging and collaboration.
- Better Representation: Homeowners feel their vote truly matters when they know the candidates and align with their values.
Strategies to Increase Candidate Visibility in Your Community
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Host Virtual or In-Person Candidate Forums: Forums are a great opportunity for homeowners to ask questions and get to know each candidate better. In large or multigenerational communities, offering a virtual option can be key to boosting attendance.
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Share Candidate Profiles in Newsletters: Distribute a newsletter with brief profiles of each candidate, highlighting their goals and priorities for the community. This helps homeowners make more informed decisions. Make sure to share this information through multiple channels to reach as many people as possible.
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Create Candidate Introduction Videos: Short videos where candidates introduce themselves and share their proposals can make a big impact. They humanize the candidates and allow homeowners to see and hear from them directly. Plus, videos are easy to share within the community.
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Conduct Pre-Election Surveys: Sending a survey to homeowners before the elections to understand their main concerns can help candidates tailor their messages and address specific issues. It also shows a genuine intention to listen and represent the needs of the community.
The Impact on Quorum: Why Improving Participation Matters
When homeowners feel like they know the candidates and understand their ideas, they’re much more motivated to vote. This not only makes it more likely that you’ll meet the quorum, but it also strengthens the legitimacy of the results. Plus, higher participation sends a clear message that the community cares about its future and well-being.
Informed Homeowners, Stronger Communities
In the end, helping residents get to know the candidates is key to boosting turnout and ensuring fair and meaningful elections. Hosting forums, sharing profiles, and maintaining open communication are just a few ways to build a culture of transparency and engagement in your community.
If this message made you think about participation in your own community, share it with other board members! Together, we can inspire positive change and strengthen the voice of everyone in the community.