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The situation you’ve described involves a unique set of circumstances in your Annual BOD elections. It appears that there’s a need for a runoff election due to tied votes among four candidates and the decision to replace an incumbent BOD member who decided not to seek reelection.
Regarding the person who received the highest number of votes, it’s not uncommon for different organizations to have specific rules and procedures outlined in their bylaws or governing documents regarding the recognition of elected officials. In some cases, the official recognition may not occur until after any necessary runoff elections have taken place.
In your specific scenario, the BOD has decided to conduct a runoff election before formally recognizing the winner. This decision might be based on the need to ensure a fair and conclusive outcome, especially considering the tied votes among other candidates. The timing of the runoff election and the utilization of proxy voting to accommodate various circumstances demonstrate an effort to uphold the democratic process.
While it might seem logical to recognize the candidate with the highest number of votes immediately, the decision to wait until after the runoff election may be guided by the organization’s established procedures. It would be advisable to review your community’s bylaws or governing documents to understand the specific rules governing election processes and the timing of recognizing elected officials.
If there’s ambiguity or if you believe there are concerns about the fairness of the process, it might be worthwhile to seek clarification from your association’s legal counsel or raise the question at a BOD meeting for further discussion and clarification. The primary goal should be to ensure transparency, fairness, and adherence to the established rules during the election process.
