CA SB323

Requires associations to hold elections for board seats at the expiration of each director's term and at minimum every four years, conducted by secret ballot with independent third-party inspectors of elections.

Mandates associations provide at least 30 days' notice before nomination deadlines and disqualify candidates who are not members at time of nomination; allows disqualification based on criminal convictions affecting fidelity bonds, failure to pay regular and special assessments (with exceptions), joint ownership conflicts, or membership less than one year.

Requires associations maintain candidate registration lists and voter lists that members can verify for accuracy at least 30 days before ballot distribution; prohibits denial of ballots to members or persons with general power of attorney for owners.

Establishes that sealed ballots, signed voter envelopes, voter lists, proxies, and candidate registration lists remain in inspector custody until after vote tabulation and challenge period; treats these materials as association records subject to inspection.

Allows members to file civil actions for election violations within one year from when election results are announced; courts must void election results if noncompliance is proven unless association shows noncompliance did not affect results; prevents associations from filing lawsuits regarding disputes where members requested internal dispute resolution unless association complied with those procedures.