I Got This One Wrong

In an earlier Rambling, I said the quorum issue was largely about people not voting. After reviewing the official election FAQ and the numbers behind it, I need to correct that.

I was mistaken.

By the December 3 deadline printed on the ballot, 1,883 votes had been received and counted. That’s 30% of the 6,222 eligible votes—short of the 35% quorum requirement, which would have required 2,178 votes.

Additional mailed ballots continued to arrive after the deadline. By December 5, the total votes received had risen to 2,623, which is about 42% of all eligible votes. That’s very much in line with our recent election history.

So the story is not that people didn’t care or didn’t vote. Many property owners did vote; a significant number of mailed ballots simply arrived too late to be counted toward quorum.

I don’t want to feed the narrative that this community is apathetic when the data shows otherwise. That’s on me, and I own it.

📊 Turnout and What It Means for By-Laws

~42% turnout is actually solid for a community election and consistent with prior years.
However, By-Law changes are a different animal. They require approval from two-thirds of all eligible votes, not just two-thirds of the ballots cast.
In this election cycle, that would mean 4,148 of the 6,222 eligible votes would have to be cast in favor of a By-Law amendment.

So while ~40–42% turnout is respectable, it is still well short of what’s needed if we ever want to update the By-Laws. That’s a participation challenge we’ll have to acknowledge and address as a community.

📨 How to Vote Without Relying on USPS Timing

You are not limited to mailing your ballot back.

According to the instructions sent with the ballot, property owners can:

🖊️ Complete and sign their paper ballot
📷 Scan or photograph the completed ballot
📧 Email it to Mauldin & Jenkins using the address and instructions printed with the ballot
📠 Or fax it, if that’s your preference

As long as Mauldin & Jenkins receives your ballot by the stated deadline and the instructions are followed, it counts just like a mailed ballot.

Please:

Use the exact email address / fax number shown on your ballot instructions
Follow any stated requirements for subject line, attachments, or file format
Contact Mauldin & Jenkins directly if anything is unclear

In the last election, a meaningful share of votes came in electronically, and that’s a practical way to avoid mail delays.

📅 Looking Ahead to the Second General Election

Because the Primary Election met quorum and was certified, we are not starting over from scratch.
The second General Election will use the same four primary winners, assuming all confirm they are still running.
The FAQ states that the second General Election will be held in the first quarter of 2026, with specific dates to be announced.

When those dates are set and ballots go out again, I’d encourage every eligible property owner to participate—whether you vote for me, for someone else, or decide this isn’t your year. That choice is entirely yours.

🤝 Why I’m Writing This

My goals here are simple:

✅ Correct my earlier statement that implied “people didn’t vote”
✅ Acknowledge that many of you did vote and were affected by USPS delays
✅ Highlight that you can vote electronically via Mauldin & Jenkins to avoid future mail timing issues

If you have questions about the process, or about where I stand on specific issues, I’m always reachable and happy to talk one-on-one.

🙏 Thank you to everyone who has already voted, and to everyone who takes the time to participate—however you choose to cast your ballot.