HB1343

Dear Members of the New Hampshire Senate Housing Committee, I am an owner in a large condominium association of 456 owners in Freedom, New Hampshire. Like many associations across the state, we struggle to pass Declaration or By-Law amendments due primarily to voter apathy and difficulty achieving participation thresholds. When I first reviewed the analysis of HB 1343, which states that the bill “updates quorum and meeting procedures for condominium associations by explicitly authorizing remote participation and electronic voting mechanisms,” I was encouraged. It appeared that, if passed, associations might be able to hold hybrid meetings where owners could attend and vote either in person or electronically. However, upon reading the proposed language more closely, I found it confusing. While the amendment seems to allow electronic participation to count toward quorum, it is not clear that it authorizes electronic voting. I reached out to committee members for clarification and appreciate the responses I received. In particular, Janet Lucas kindly forwarded my concerns and suggested changes to Attorney Ducharme for consideration. In his response to my question—“Shouldn’t all RSAs pertaining to voting be updated to include electronic voting and voting by ballot (mail-in or electronically)?”—he stated that the proposed amendment to allow e-meetings does not specifically address e-voting, and instead only requires that voting results (the tally sheet) be made available electronically. If I understand his response correctly, HB 1343 as currently drafted does not authorize electronic voting. This feels like a missed opportunity. Associations across New Hampshire would greatly benefit from clear statutory authority to conduct secure electronic voting and mail-in ballot voting. These tools would significantly improve participation, help associations meet quorum requirements, and allow owners to engage more meaningfully in governance—especially in large communities like ours. I respectfully urge the Committee to reconsider the proposed amendment and explicitly incorporate language authorizing electronic voting and voting by ballot into the relevant RSA provisions. Clear statutory guidance would remove uncertainty and provide associations with the tools they need to function effectively in today’s environment. Thank you for your time, your service, and your thoughtful consideration of this important issue. Kim Lauranzano 11 East Shawnee Ln. Freedom, NH 03836 978-578-5515