Big Election Changes for Maryland Condos and HOAs: What You Need to Know

Disclaimer

⚖️ Friendly Disclaimer: This post is for educational and informational purposes only. It’s not legal advice—just some parliamentary perspective from someone who gets way too excited about elections running smoothly (yes, I’m that kind of fun at parties).

📢 Maryland Just Shook Up Condo & HOA Elections

Maryland just passed a new law—Chapter 512 (Senate Bill 758)—that completely retools how condominiums and homeowners associations (HOAs) run their board elections. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and for once, those of us who live and breathe Robert’s Rules of Order can say, “Finally, someone read the bylaws!”

This new legislation is about fairness, transparency, and accountability—all the values a good parliamentarian cheers for. It adds specific requirements for independent election oversight, clarifies when records must be shared (and when you can’t be charged to see them), and gives the Maryland Attorney General’s Office some real teeth in enforcing association law.

Let’s break down the top changes that matter most to you and your community.

🧩 1. Elections Must Be Run by Independent Parties

Gone are the days when your property manager or the incumbent president’s best friend could “help” count ballots.

Under the new law, elections must be conducted by independent parties—people who:

Are not candidates in the election, and
Have no conflicts of interest with any of the candidates.

Property management company reps can’t run the show unless the management company is actually owned by the association itself. This means communities will need to think about who qualifies as truly independent.

👋 Pro Tip from the Parliamentarian’s Desk:
Parliamentarians (yes, like those of us at Last Minute Meetings) make excellent independent inspectors of election. We already know how to verify credentials, manage ballots, and keep the process above reproach—without stepping on your bylaws or your ballot box.

💻 2. You Can Hire a Third-Party or Use an Online Election Platform

If you’re tired of paper ballots and mysterious envelopes, you’re in luck. The new law explicitly allows associations to hire a vendor or use an electronic voting platform to run elections.

That means your next election could have digital ballots, real-time tracking, and (gasp) actually accurate vote counts. Just make sure the platform you choose maintains accountability and keeps the process verifiable.

✅ 3. Fairness, Transparency, and Accountability Are Now Law

Individuals overseeing elections must make reasonable efforts to ensure the election is fair and accountable. In other words, no creative vote-counting or disappearing ballots.

And if you’re a volunteer unit owner tapped to help run the election—good news! The law says that as long as you act in good faith, you’re not personally liable for what happens.

🗣️ 4. Condo Owners Can Organize Without Retaliation

This part will make any democracy lover proud. Condominiums (but interestingly, not HOAs—yet) must now allow reasonable use of common areas for owners to organize around governance issues.

You can gather signatures, campaign for candidates, or discuss bylaw changes—without fear that the board will fine you for using the clubhouse bulletin board. The law even bans retaliation against owners for participating in organizing activity.

If that isn’t parliamentary spirit in action, I don’t know what is.

🔍 5. Outdated or Conflicting Bylaws? They’re Void.

Here’s a big one: if your governing documents, rules, or election policies conflict with these new statutory rules, they’re unenforceable and void.

That means every board should review its bylaws and election procedures now to make sure they’ll still hold up after October 1, 2025. (Hint: this is a great reason to call your parliamentarian.)

🗓️ When Does It All Kick In?

The law goes into effect October 1, 2025, giving boards and management teams time to prepare. But don’t wait until next fall—start updating your election rules and procedures now.

You can read the full text of the law here: Maryland Chapter 512 (Senate Bill 758)

💬 Need Help Getting Your Elections in Order?

If your condo or HOA wants help revising bylaws, training inspectors of election, or setting up a fair and orderly process, the team at Last Minute Meetings is here to help.

We combine parliamentary expertise with real-world experience in managing elections, meetings, and community governance—without the drama.

📩 Reach out to us at Last Minute Meetings if you have questions, want a training session, or need an independent inspector for your next election.

Let’s make sure your next vote is fair, friendly, and firmly by the book—because in Maryland, the rules just got a whole lot clearer.

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Donald Garrett, MPA, PRP is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian based in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area (Northern Virginia). He received both his Bachelor of Arts (Government) and Master of Public Administration from George Mason University.
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