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Membership Vote – Easier to Understand

Posted by presidentblma@gmail.com
Hi Folks,
I received  a request from a homeowner to send this out for those of you who found my newsletter difficult to understand. He had CHAT GBT, which is a computer generated program, help with this format. I have no problem with this format and hope it helps.
Warm regards,
Nancy J. Perry
President
BLMA

Upcoming Vote – May 12, 2025

We will be holding a Membership Vote on May 12, 2025 to address one critical issue:

  • Proposal: Change the requirement for passing amendments to our governing documents from a 40% of all homeowners threshold to a simple majority of votes cast.

This single-topic vote was unanimously supported in a recent meeting with all Sub-Association (Condo) Presidents.

❗ Why This Change Is Important

Currently, it takes 656 “yes” votes to amend any of our documents, regardless of how many people actually vote. This creates serious challenges:

  • Condo owners often do not vote on issues they feel apply only to single-family homes.
  • However, condo units far outnumber single-family homes, making their non-participation a barrier to change.
  • This results in deadlocked elections, where nothing can pass, even when supported by a clear majority of active voters.

🗳 Voting Access and Participation

We’ve made every effort to ensure that every homeowner has access to vote:

  • E-Voting is now available for 1,400+ homeowners who have signed up.
  • Our office staff has verified mailing addresses for those not enrolled in e-voting, so everyone will receive a ballot.
  • The only reason not to vote now is personal choice — and we urge you not to sit out this important vote.

🧾 Common Misunderstandings About Voting

There is confusion about what constitutes a valid election or amendment:

  • Some believe that a simple majority always rules — this is not true under our current rules.
  • Our documents currently require:
    • 40% of all homeowners (656 votes) to approve amendments.
    • At least 247 total votes for any election to be considered valid at all.

This means even if a majority supports a change, it cannot pass unless we meet the 656-vote threshold — which has become nearly impossible under current conditions.

⚖️ Compliance with Florida Statutes

If we do not change our voting requirements:

  • Our Covenants, By-Laws, and Articles of Incorporation will remain out of compliance with current Florida law.
  • Continued votes under the outdated rule may be legally invalid, making them a waste of time and money.
  • This non-compliance also creates complications when selling homes, as buyers are often confused or concernedby the outdated and conflicting documents.

📬 What You’ll Receive

You’ll be receiving a ballot package soon. It will include 3 questions, one for each governing document:

  • Covenants
  • Bylaws
  • Articles of Incorporation

All 3 must be updated to reflect the same majority rule.

🙏 Final Note

Please take a moment to participate in this vote. It’s vital for the future health and governance of our community.

Thank you for your support.

Warm regards,
Nancy J. Perry
President, BLMA