The Nomination Committee is established and is searching and vetting the candidates.
Who Can Serve On An HOA Board? How To Vet For Candidates | CM
How to Vet and Evaluate Candidates
Considering the roles that board members play, associations should adopt a vetting procedure to check the qualifications of candidates. Here are some tips that can help both homeowners and current board members alike.
Set Up a Nomination Committee
The function of a nomination committee is to screen candidates for election. This committee is essentially in charge of checking whether or not nominees are qualified to run for a position on the board under state laws and the HOA’s bylaws. Of course, committee members should have no conflicts of interest with the nominees that may sway their judgment towards one way or another.
Establish HOA Board Member Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements can vary from one association to another. State laws permitting, common requirements typically dictate that candidates must:
- Be a member of the association for more than one (1) year at the time of nomination;
- Have no delinquent dues or unpaid fines;
- Have no outstanding violations;
- Not be in ongoing litigation with the association; and,
- Not serve on the board at the same time as another person from the same household.
Again, it is essential to check the laws in your state. While many associations don’t allow candidates to have outstanding violations or fines, such a requirement is not always enforceable. For instance, California law does not permit an association to disqualify a nominee even if they have unpaid fines.