Floor Motion H: Adoption of Election Buddy for Enhanced Voter Participation, Security and Efficiency in Surfside HOA Elections

Opinion on Motion:

The real question is why one member continues to push for a single source of electronic voting? The motion answers this question. The question is do you often offer opinions without knowing anything about the topic. I suggest you read the motion before criticizing it.

I have 15 years experience vetting  virtualization, storage , security and data center solutions and recommending software to customers. I am uniquely qualified to test and recommend software. I developed complex software and hardware recipes showing customers how to setup complete data center solutions.

The Surfside HOA could easily used electionbuddy  for the last five elections and  saved thousands of dollars. I even provided an election buddy contact and they ignored it. The Virginia HOA contacted election buddy  paid election buddy to run their election. They got the results without any effort other than providing the email list and it took less than two months.  It clearly shows the difference with this board who did nothing in 15 months at the detriment of the members. My recommendation is based on the price and my experience on selecting software.

The arguments against ElectionBuddy ignore both its proven success and the board’s failure to act on viable solutions. A Virginia HOA, larger than Surfside, adopted ElectionBuddy in just two months with great success, increasing voter participation without any issues. Despite my repeated attempts to engage the election committee—including sending ten emails to Ron, the head of the committee—my efforts were met with resistance, not evaluation. Even after presenting poll results showing 97% approval for ElectionBuddy, and multiple successful test runs with hundreds of Surfside members, the board dismissed it. Some even falsely accused me of selling members’ emails, which is entirely untrue. The same person implying I was bribing members  I was bribing members to poll. Yes I offered prizes but it was to provide broad testing with hundreds of Surfside residents saving thousands in testing costs.

The rebuttal to the proposed implementation of ElectionBuddy for Surfside HOA elections fails to recognize the significant benefits that electtionbuddy sokution provides while maintaining the integrity of traditional paper ballots. ElectionBuddy is not about replacing paper ballots but enhancing voting options to increase accessibility, voter participation, and election efficiency. Here’s why this motion should be supported:

1. Increased Voter Participation: Evidence from the case study of the Virginia HOA shows a dramatic increase in voter turnout through the adoption of ElectionBuddy. By sending electronic ballots to all members, the HOA saw a significant improvement in participation, including remote members who might otherwise struggle with timely access to ballots. This hybrid approach (both paper and electronic ballots) ensures that everyone has an easy, reliable way to vote, thus addressing existing complaints about late or missing ballots.

2. Enhanced Security: ElectionBuddy employs advanced security measures, ensuring the privacy and integrity of the voting process. This system is trusted even by residents working in sensitive government positions, such as those employed by the FBI and DOJ in the Virginia HOA case study. The use of audit trails and detailed reports adds another layer of transparency and trust to the election process.

3. Efficiency and Independence: Setting up ElectionBuddy took just three days in the Virginia HOA, and it ran independently from the management company, removing any potential conflict of interest. By reducing manual processes and automating vote counting, the election results are delivered faster and more accurately. ElectionBuddy handles the technical aspects, ensuring the integrity of the election without overburdening the HOA staff.

4. Hybrid Voting System: This motion does not seek to eliminate paper ballots but rather to complement them with electronic voting options. This hybrid system allows for compliance with existing bylaws while providing a more inclusive solution for those who may face barriers with paper voting. Problems with mailed ballots—such as misspellings or non-receipt—have disenfranchised members in the past, and this motion directly addresses these concerns by adding a secure electronic option.

5. Cost Efficiency: The cost of implementing ElectionBuddy, as shown in the Virginia HOA case study, is approximately $1,200—a small price for the improved voter engagement, efficiency, and security. This is far more cost-effective than the potential administrative burden and errors involved in managing paper ballots alone.

In conclusion, adopting ElectionBuddy will modernize Surfside’s election process without compromising the traditional paper ballot system, ensuring that every member has a convenient, secure, and efficient way to participate. This motion not only safeguards the rights of voters but also brings the HOA into the 21st century, making elections fairer and more accessible for all.