California Civil Code § 5115 · § 4275
Quórum, y qué pasa cuando no se alcanza
Si una elección de junta no alcanza el quórum, la asociación puede convocar una reunión reconvocada
que se celebre al menos 20 días después de la elección programada, avisando de ella al menos 15 días
antes. En esa reunión reconvocada, el 20 por ciento de los miembros — votando en persona, por poder o
por boleta secreta — cumple el requisito de quórum.
Artículos Civ. Code § 5115 · § 4275
Reforma § 5115: AB 1170 (2025) · § 4275: AB 805 (2012)
En vigor § 5115 desde 2026-01-01 · § 4275 desde 2013-01-01
Texto verificado 2026-10-10
Civil Code § 5115 — el texto, en inglés
Election Notices, Ballots, and Quorum Requirements
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 37. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.
El texto va en inglés porque así está promulgado: la versión inglesa es la que tiene fuerza de ley. La explicación de esta página está en español; si algo en ella difiere del texto, vale el texto.
(a)An association shall provide general notice of the procedure and deadline for submitting a nomination at least 30 days before any deadline for submitting a nomination. Individual notice shall be delivered pursuant to Section 4040 if individual notice is requested by a member. This subdivision shall only apply to elections of directors and to recall elections.
(b)For elections of directors and for recall elections, an association shall provide general notice of all of the following at least 30 days before the ballots are distributed:
(b)(1)The date and time by which, and the physical address where, ballots are to be returned by mail or handed to the inspector or inspectors of elections.
(b)(2)If the association allows for voting in an election by electronic secret ballot as provided for in Section 5105, the date and time by which electronic secret ballots are to be transmitted to the internet-based voting system and preliminary instructions on how to vote by electronic secret ballot upon commencement of the voting period.
(b)(3)The date, time, and location of the meeting at which a quorum will be determined, if the association’s governing documents require a quorum, and at which ballots will be counted.
(b)(4)The list of all candidates’ names that will appear on the ballot.
(b)(5)Individual notice of the above paragraphs shall be delivered pursuant to Section 4040 if individual notice is requested by a member.
(b)(6)(A)If the association’s governing documents require a quorum for an election of directors, a statement that the association may call a reconvened meeting to be held at least 20 days after a scheduled election if the required quorum is not reached, at which time the quorum of the membership to elect directors will be 20 percent of the association’s members, voting in person, by proxy, or by secret ballot.
(b)(6)(B)This paragraph shall not apply if the governing documents of the association provide for a quorum lower than 20 percent.
(c)Ballots and two preaddressed envelopes with instructions on how to return ballots shall be mailed by first-class mail or delivered by the association to every member not less than 30 days prior to the deadline for voting, unless an association conducts an election by electronic secret ballot as provided for in Section 5105, in which case only members who will vote by written secret ballot pursuant to Section 5105 shall be mailed or delivered the ballots and envelopes. In order to preserve confidentiality, a voter may not be identified by name, address, or lot, parcel, or unit number on the ballot. The association shall use as a model those procedures used by California counties for ensuring confidentiality of vote by mail ballots, including both of the following:
(c)(1)The ballot itself is not signed by the voter, but is inserted into an envelope that is sealed. This envelope is inserted into a second envelope that is sealed. In the upper left-hand corner of the second envelope, the voter shall sign the voter’s name, indicate the voter’s name, and indicate the address or separate interest identifier that entitles the voter to vote.
(c)(2)The second envelope is addressed to the inspector or inspectors of elections, who will be tallying the votes. The envelope may be mailed or delivered by hand to a location specified by the inspector or inspectors of elections. The member may request a receipt for delivery.
(d)(1)A quorum shall be required only if so stated in the governing documents or other provisions of law. If a quorum is required by the governing documents, each ballot received by the inspector or inspectors of elections shall be treated as a member present at a meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(d)(2)For an election of directors of an association, and in the absence of meeting a quorum as required by the association’s governing documents or Section 7512 of the Corporations Code, unless a lower quorum for a reconvened meeting is authorized by the association’s governing documents, the association may adjourn the meeting to a date at least 20 days after the adjourned meeting, at which time the quorum required for purposes of a reconvened meeting to elect directors shall be 20 percent of the association’s members, voting in person, by proxy, or by secret ballot.
(d)(3)No less than 15 days prior to the date of the reconvened meeting described in paragraph (2), the association shall provide general notice of the reconvened meeting, which shall include:
(d)(3)(A)The date, time, and location of the meeting.
(d)(3)(C)Unless the association’s governing documents provide for a lower quorum, a statement that 20 percent of the association’s members, voting in person, by proxy, or secret ballot will satisfy the quorum requirements for the election of directors at that reconvened meeting and that the ballots will be counted if a quorum is reached, if the association’s governing documents require a quorum.
(e)An association shall allow for cumulative voting using the secret ballot procedures provided in this section, if cumulative voting is provided for in the governing documents.
(f)Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the governing documents, except for the meeting to count the votes required in subdivision (a) of Section 5120, an election may be conducted entirely by mail, electronic secret ballot, or a combination of mail and electronic secret ballot, pursuant to Section 5105.
(g)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), in an election to approve an amendment of the governing documents, the text of the proposed amendment shall be delivered to the members with the ballot.
(g)(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if an association conducts an election to approve an amendment of governing documents by electronic secret ballot, the association may deliver, by electronic means, the text of the proposed amendment to those members who vote by electronic secret ballot, pursuant to Section 5105. The association shall also deliver a written copy of the text of the proposed amendment to those members upon request and without charge. If a member votes by written secret ballot, pursuant to Section 5105, the association shall deliver a written copy of the text of the proposed amendment to the member with the ballot.
Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5115.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.
Civil Code § 4275 — el texto, en inglés
Petition to Reduce Percentage of Votes Required to Amend the Declaration
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.
El texto va en inglés porque así está promulgado: la versión inglesa es la que tiene fuerza de ley. La explicación de esta página está en español; si algo en ella difiere del texto, vale el texto.
(a)If in order to amend a declaration, the declaration requires members having more than 50 percent of the votes in the association, in a single class voting structure, or members having more than 50 percent of the votes in more than one class in a voting structure with more than one class, to vote in favor of the amendment, the association, or any member, may petition the superior court of the county in which the common interest development is located for an order reducing the percentage of the affirmative votes necessary for such an amendment. The petition shall describe the effort that has been made to solicit approval of the association members in the manner provided in the declaration, the number of affirmative and negative votes actually received, the number or percentage of affirmative votes required to effect the amendment in accordance with the existing declaration, and other matters the petitioner considers relevant to the court’s determination. The petition shall also contain, as exhibits thereto, copies of all of the following:
(a)(1)The governing documents.
(a)(2)A complete text of the amendment.
(a)(3)Copies of any notice and solicitation materials utilized in the solicitation of member approvals.
(a)(4)A short explanation of the reason for the amendment.
(a)(5)Any other documentation relevant to the court’s determination.
(b)Upon filing the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing and issue an ex parte order setting forth the manner in which notice shall be given.
(c)The court may, but shall not be required to, grant the petition if it finds all of the following:
(c)(1)The petitioner has given not less than 15 days written notice of the court hearing to all members of the association, to any mortgagee of a mortgage or beneficiary of a deed of trust who is entitled to notice under the terms of the declaration, and to the city, county, or city and county in which the common interest development is located that is entitled to notice under the terms of the declaration.
(c)(2)Balloting on the proposed amendment was conducted in accordance with the governing documents, this act, and any other applicable law.
(c)(3)A reasonably diligent effort was made to permit all eligible members to vote on the proposed amendment.
(c)(4)Members having more than 50 percent of the votes, in a single class voting structure, voted in favor of the amendment. In a voting structure with more than one class, where the declaration requires a majority of more than one class to vote in favor of the amendment, members having more than 50 percent of the votes of each class required by the declaration to vote in favor of the amendment voted in favor of the amendment.
(c)(5)The amendment is reasonable.
(c)(6)Granting the petition is not improper for any reason stated in subdivision (e).
(d)If the court makes the findings required by subdivision (c), any order issued pursuant to this section may confirm the amendment as being validly approved on the basis of the affirmative votes actually received during the balloting period or the order may dispense with any requirement relating to quorums or to the number or percentage of votes needed for approval of the amendment that would otherwise exist under the governing documents.
(e)Subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, notwithstanding, the court shall not be empowered by this section to approve any amendment to the declaration that:
(e)(1)Would change provisions in the declaration requiring the approval of members having more than 50 percent of the votes in more than one class to vote in favor of an amendment, unless members having more than 50 percent of the votes in each affected class approved the amendment.
(e)(2)Would eliminate any special rights, preferences, or privileges designated in the declaration as belonging to the declarant, without the consent of the declarant.
(e)(3)Would impair the security interest of a mortgagee of a mortgage or the beneficiary of a deed of trust without the approval of the percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries specified in the declaration, if the declaration requires the approval of a specified percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries.
(f)An amendment is not effective pursuant to this section until the court order and amendment have been recorded in every county in which a portion of the common interest development is located. The amendment may be acknowledged by, and the court order and amendment may be recorded by, any person designated in the declaration or by the association for that purpose, or if no one is designated for that purpose, by the president of the association. Upon recordation of the amendment and court order, the declaration, as amended in accordance with this section, shall have the same force and effect as if the amendment were adopted in compliance with every requirement imposed by the governing documents.
(g)Within a reasonable time after the amendment is recorded the association shall deliver to each member, by individual delivery, pursuant to Section 4040, a copy of the amendment, together with a statement that the amendment has been recorded.
Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/4275.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.
Por qué existe esta página
La falta de quórum no es un caso excepcional en las asociaciones de California — es la condición
habitual de muchas de ellas. Los profesionales del sector describen asociaciones que llevan años sin
constituir junta porque la elección anual no logra reunir participación suficiente para ser válida. La
conducta del propio legislador es la prueba más clara: el § 4275 existe porque las votaciones
de enmienda fracasan con tanta regularidad que las asociaciones necesitaron una vía judicial
para bajar el umbral después del hecho.
La reunión reconvocada
- Son dos intervalos, no uno. La reunión reconvocada se celebra no antes de
20 días después de la elección programada; el aviso general sale no menos de
15 días antes de que se celebre. Confundir los dos es la manera habitual de
celebrar la reunión antes de tiempo.
- Umbral. El veinte por ciento de los miembros, contando a quienes votan en
persona, por poder y por boleta secreta.
- No ayuda a la asociación cuyo listón ya está más bajo. La disposición no se
aplica cuando los documentos rectores fijan un quórum inferior al 20 por ciento — en ese caso rigen
los documentos y el remedio es irrelevante.
- Alcance. El remedio es para elecciones de directores. No convierte toda votación
fallida en una votación al 20 por ciento.
Dos cosas que el texto resuelve y la gente da por supuestas
El quórum no es automático. Solo se exige quórum si los documentos rectores u otra
ley lo dicen. La asociación cuyos documentos callan no adquiere por defecto un requisito de quórum —
y parte de los problemas de quórum que las asociaciones describen se los impusieron ellas mismas con
documentos que nadie ha vuelto a revisar.
Una boleta devuelta cuenta como presencia. Donde se exige quórum, cada boleta que
recibe el inspector se trata como un miembro presente a efectos de establecerlo. Por eso el quórum
hay que calcularlo desde el expediente conciliado de todos los canales y no desde la sala — véase
elecciones híbridas.
Enmiendas: la petición del § 4275
Cuando una enmienda propuesta a los documentos rectores cuenta con el apoyo de los miembros que
votaron pero no llega al porcentaje que exigen los documentos, la asociación puede pedir al tribunal
superior que reduzca ese porcentaje. El tribunal examina si la asociación avisó debidamente, si hizo
un esfuerzo razonable por recabar votos y si la enmienda es razonable.
Es un remedio de último recurso con su propio coste y sus propios plazos. Es también una admisión
escrita en la ley de que los umbrales de muchos juegos de CC&Rs se fijaron en niveles que las
tasas de participación actuales no pueden alcanzar.
Cómo se cuenta el quórum
Cuando los documentos rectores asignan el poder de voto por unidad o por interés y no por cabeza, el
quórum sigue esa asignación: se mide contra intereses con derecho a voto, no contra el número de
personas que respondieron. Una asociación con voto ponderado puede tener participación de muchos
propietarios pequeños y aun así quedarse corta de quórum, o al revés.
Separe las dos preguntas
El quórum pregunta si participó poder de voto suficiente para que la reunión pueda
actuar. El umbral pregunta si bastantes de los que participaron aprobaron la
medida. Una votación puede superar uno y fallar el otro, y los documentos rectores a menudo los
expresan en unidades distintas. Confundirlos es un motivo habitual de impugnación bajo el
§ 5145.
Relacionado
- § 5110 — el inspector que cuenta y resuelve las impugnaciones.
- AB 2159 — la boleta electrónica, que cambia cómo se recoge la participación pero no qué exige el quórum.
- Calculadora de plazos — incluido el aviso de 15 días de la reunión reconvocada.
- Corp. Code §§ 7513 y 7615 — la vía de la boleta escrita, que no tiene reunión reconvocada a la que acogerse.