Ballot Tampering

Source: Adrian J. Adams Esq.

QUESTION: We have a director who was caught alone with ballots, shredding envelopes and making identifying marks on the inner envelopes. Can you shed some light on ballot tampering and what we can do if the director is elected to the board?

 

ANSWER: It’s appropriate that your question falls on the 40th anniversary of Watergate.

Election Standards. The California Legislature set clear election standards for tamper-free elections. It did so by requiring double sealed-envelopes (Civ. Code §5115), independent inspectors of election (Civ. Code §5110), and public opening of  ballots and tabulation of votes (Civ. Code §5120). Associations are also required to adopt election rules to meet these (and other) standards. (Civ. Code §5105.)

RECOMMENDATION: If election shenanigans are discovered and the director gets himself elected, the membership has four options:

1. The easiest is to sit on their hands and do nothing. This is popular in many associations but tends to be costly–a director without ethical standards running the association.

2.  The next option is to demand a recount and an inspection of the ballots. (Civ. Code §5125.)

3. A third option is to initiate a recall. If the evidence is clear, the membership can vote the scoundrel out of office. This requires a lot of energy, especially if you have cumulative voting.

4. Assuming the evidence is strong, members can bring a civil action for injunctive relief to void the election and order a new one. (Civ. Code §5145.) This requires a lot of money. However, it may be possible to take it to small claims court. If so, the cost would be minimal.