Advice on How to Handle an Election Year in Your HOA Community
Navigating Election Year in Your Community
Maintaining harmony within your community can be difficult during the best of times. But when election season rolls around, things can get especially tricky. With high emotions and a wide variety of opinions among homeowners in your neighborhood, keeping things peaceful can feel like a true challenge.
Clear community guidelines help maintain civility and fosters an environment of respect. Here are some ideas to consider as you strive to help your community navigate this potentially contentious season.
Political Aesthetics
Many homeowners choose to express their political allegiance through signage and flags. While HOAs have the power to create and enforce their own rules regarding signage and banners, it's also important to note that other regulations may dictate what homeowners can and can't do. Balance the aesthetic within the community with homeowners' freedom of expression.
When drafting or reviewing rules regarding political signage, consider the following:
Local laws—Prioritize city or state laws when displaying political signs or flags. Your HOA's rules cannot be more restrictive than these laws, so be familiar with them before establishing your own rules.
Signs—Many HOAs regulate the size and placement of political signs in yards to prevent clutter and maintain a uniform appearance throughout the community. The HOA may limit sign size and the number of signs displayed, or signs may or may not be allowed in designated common areas.
Duration—Determine a reasonable timeframe for displaying political signs, including start and end dates. Establishing these times will allow residents to express their views while maintaining community-wide visual appeal year-round.
Flags and banners—Some residents may also display flags or banners to express their community views. Similar guidelines regarding size, placement, and duration can help regulate these items while respecting residents' rights to display them. When it comes to flags, remember the following:
Residents can fly the American flag any time throughout the year, per federal law.
State laws may regulate things like flagpole location and height.
Local or federal regulations may also restrict other flags.
These basic guidelines help you set ground rules within your community during an election year.
Political Discussions
While some people may prefer to express their political views through signs and flags, others may want to discuss the topics verbally. Healthy discourse is a crucial point of democracy, and it's not bad for citizens to want to engage in political discussions. Still, it's straightforward for political disagreements to escalate into conflicts that disrupt an otherwise peaceful and happy neighborhood.
Here are some tips for managing political discussions:
Strike the right balance—You want to encourage civic engagement but avoid the election year taking over your neighborhood. Consider hosting a few key events where you will allow political talk at these events.
Establish ground rules—Maintain respect and keep things productive before HOA meetings or community events where political issues may arise. Some of these rules may include:
Listen openly to different viewpoints.
Only speak when it is your turn.
Never personally attack someone.
Avoid inflammatory language.
Stay neutral—HOA board members must remain neutral and impartial when facilitating discussions or addressing political issues within the community. They should avoid expressing personal opinions or taking sides and focus instead on creating a fair and inclusive environment for all residents. They should also refrain from holding partisan events hosted by the HOA.
Focus on shared goals—Most residents want the same things for their communities: safe, happy, clean neighborhoods to live and raise their families. Encourage residents to focus on these common goals and shared interests rather than political divisions. Emphasize the importance of working together to address community issues. Point out that cooperation is much more likely to improve the quality of life for all residents.
Fairness and Respect—Whenever politics are involved, the most important thing to remember is to handle discussions respectfully and fairly, creating safety and inclusion within your neighborhood and among residents.
Clear rules—Write all the rules regarding political expression in your HOA governing documents. You could use the election year as an excuse to remind residents what your neighborhood rules are. If residents have questions, be sure to answer them.
Consistent enforcement—Don't take action against one political expression while ignoring similar ones. For example, do not issue a violation against a specific flag while ignoring other flags displayed in the neighborhood or address particular complaints while neglecting others. Most importantly, do not make exceptions to the rules, because it could lead to discrimination against specific residents.
Conflict mediation—Despite your best efforts, conflicts will almost always arise. Be prepared to facilitate mediation to help resolve disputes among neighbors. Establish clear procedures for this mediation so minor disagreements don't escalate into more significant issues. Use your community regulations as the basis for all your decision-making.
Election years often come with heightened emotions, which can take a toll, even at a community level. With proactive management and clear guidelines, HOAs can help their neighborhoods navigate an election year, fostering respect, civility, and inclusivity.