California HOA Nomination Procedures Notice

This notice documents the procedural rules the association will follow while nominations are open. It complements the call for candidates by answering the practical questions members ask once they consider running.

It is educational and procedural. It does not decide the election; it establishes the shared expectations that make the later ballot and tabulation defensible.

It is generally issued at or near the opening of the nomination window and before ballots are prepared.

Some associations combine the nomination procedures content with the call for candidates in a single mailing; others send them separately so each document stays short and readable.

• The accepted nomination methods and where nominations are submitted
• The nomination opening date and closing deadline
• Candidate qualification requirements from the adopted election rules
• Disqualification standards and how a candidate may respond to a disqualification determination
• Whether nominations from the floor are permitted under the governing documents
• Candidate statement rules, including length limits and submission deadlines
• How the association will verify membership and good standing
• How the association will treat an election where candidates do not exceed open seats
• Contact details for the inspector of elections
• Permitted disqualification grounds under §5105: not a member at the time of nomination (mandatory), and, only if the bylaws or election rules adopt them, being delinquent on regular or special assessments (not fines), co-owning a unit with a sitting director or other nominee, membership of less than one year, or a criminal conviction that would affect required insurance

All members entitled to vote receive the notice through the delivery method permitted by the governing documents and any individual delivery preference on file.

Associations often post the same information on a community portal, but posting alone does not replace required delivery.

The nomination procedure and deadline must be given by general notice at least 30 days before the nomination deadline (Civil Code §5115(a)), or by individual notice at least 90 days before the deadline when acclamation may be used (§5103). Starting January 1, 2027, that acclamation notice moves to at least 30 days (AB 1892). See the 2027 changes

Within 7 business days of receiving a nomination, the association must acknowledge it and tell the nominee whether they are a qualified candidate. A disqualified nominee must be told the reason and the appeal procedure (§5103(c)).

Members must be able to verify their information on the candidate list and voter list at least 30 days before ballots are distributed, and the inspector must correct reported errors within 2 business days (§5105(a)(7)).

Election operating rules, including nomination rules, cannot be amended less than 90 days before an election (§5105(h)).

• Publishing qualification standards that differ from the adopted election rules
• Failing to describe how a candidate may respond to a disqualification determination
• Adding new nomination requirements after the window has opened
• Leaving out the deadline for candidate statements
• Not identifying who verifies candidate eligibility
• Disqualifying a nominee for unpaid fines or late charges, which §5105(d) does not allow, or for unpaid assessments when the member is on a payment plan or paid under protest

Once the candidate list is final, associations move toward the pre-ballot stage, where members receive information about the ballot before it is distributed.

Pre-Ballot Notice