HOA Election Results Notice
The election results notice reports the outcome of the vote to the membership after the inspector of elections completes the tabulation at the open meeting.
What Is This Notice?
This notice publishes the tabulated results so the membership can see how the election concluded and who will serve on the board.
It is the closing document of the election cycle and, together with the retained ballots and voter lists, forms the association's record of the election.
When Is It Used?
It is issued promptly after ballots are counted at the meeting where tabulation occurs.
Associations commonly publish the results by general delivery and also post them where members expect to find association announcements.
What Information Does It Typically Include?
- The date the ballots were counted
- The vote tabulation for each candidate or ballot measure
- The names of the candidates elected and the terms they will serve
- The number of ballots received and, where applicable, the number found invalid
- Confirmation that quorum requirements were met, where relevant
- The inspector of elections' certification or report reference
- Information about how members may inspect election records
Who Receives the Notice?
The results are communicated to the membership by general delivery in the manner the association uses for member communications.
Associations often post results in a common area or member portal in addition to the required delivery.
Timing & Deadlines
Civil Code §5120(b) requires the board to give general notice of the tabulated results within 15 days of the election. The results must also be promptly reported to the board, recorded in the minutes of the next board meeting and made available for members to review.
Ballots, signed envelopes, voter list, proxies, candidate list and any electronic tally sheet stay in the inspector's custody until the time to challenge the election has passed (§5125). A member has one year from the date the inspector notifies the board and membership of the results to bring a legal challenge (§5145), so plan for at least one year of retention.
If a court finds the election procedures were not followed, it must void the results unless the association proves the noncompliance did not affect the outcome, and it may impose a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation (§5145).
Related California Civil Code
California Civil Code §5110
Inspector of elections
Covers appointment of one or three inspectors of elections, who may serve, and the duties of the inspector in administering the vote and tabulating ballots.
California Civil Code §5120
Ballot counting and tabulation
Requires votes to be counted in public at a properly noticed open meeting, makes a received ballot irrevocable, and requires general notice of the tabulated results within 15 days of the election.
California Civil Code §5125
Election materials as association records
Keeps ballots, signed envelopes, voter and candidate lists, proxies and electronic tally sheets in the inspector's custody until the challenge period expires, then transfers custody to the association.
California Civil Code §5145
Enforcement and remedies
Lets a member sue within one year of the results announcement; courts must void a noncompliant election unless the association proves the outcome was unaffected, with civil penalties up to $500 per violation.
Last reviewed: October 5, 2026
Common Mistakes
- Publishing only the winners without the vote tabulation
- Reporting results before the inspector has finalized the count
- Failing to note invalid or uncounted ballots when relevant
- Missing the deadline for reporting results to members
- Discarding ballots and envelopes before the retention period ends
- Sending the results notice more than 15 days after the election
What Happens Next?
After results are published, the association retains election materials as association records and the newly seated board begins its term. The next cycle begins again with the call for candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ballots are counted in public at a properly noticed open meeting, and the board must give general notice of the tabulated results within 15 days of the election (Civil Code §5120(b)).
Typically the tabulation for each candidate, the names of those elected, the date of the count and information about how members may review election records.
The inspector keeps custody of the election materials until the challenge period expires, then custody transfers to the association (§5125). Because members have one year after the results are announced to challenge the election (§5145), keep everything for at least one year.
Election materials are association records subject to inspection rules. The inspector of elections typically maintains custody during the retention period.
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