In Panama City, Florida, an automatic recount is triggered when a candidate or measure is rejected by less than 0.5% of the total. This process involves a combination of manual counting and retabulation. Floridians who lived through the 2000s U. S.
Presidential elections know how contentious close elections, controversial results, and recounts can be. The same can be said for contested elections in homeowners' associations and condo associations. By law, community associations must keep election materials for a certain period of time, so it's natural to want to recount them to determine the correct results. However, the decisions of the Condominium, Timeshare and Mobile Homes Division (“Division”) of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations suggest that a community association cannot recount or correct electoral errors after the conclusion of the annual meeting, unless ordered by the Division. Until the Division provides further guidance through regulations or arbitral decisions, it appears that a community association must accept the results of the elections as announced, even if it conclusively determines that its initial election results are inaccurate. This was made clear in cases such as Gulf Island Beach & Tennis Club I Condominium, Inc. v.
Lapenna (2000), Cypress Palms Condominium Association, Inc. v. Boca Raton (2001), and Cypress Palms Condominium Association, Inc. v. Boca Raton (2002).
The Association is not authorized to file a petition for arbitration challenging the results of the elections on its own. To avoid this situation, it's important to be extremely careful when counting votes and considering precautionary measures to ensure an accurate count before announcing the results and adjourning the session from the annual meeting. Having a competent lawyer attend and direct annual meetings and elections can help the association avoid counting errors that are much harder to correct after the fact. Associations that wish to allow recounts should review their governing documents to determine if authority exists and, if necessary, consult with an attorney regarding the requirements for modifying government documents to establish counting procedures. The Secretary of State, Comptroller of State, and State Treasurer meet within 15 days after the elections to poll and certify the results of elections for state and federal offices. County officials review local election statements and transmit the results to the Secretary of State no later than 20 days after the elections.
County officials meet no later than three Mondays after the elections to discuss the results of local elections. If a recount is held in at least 20 electoral districts with at least 5,000 votes and the results change in favor of a candidate, then it is paid for by state funds and a recount is conducted in any additional districts for that office. The Secretary of State, two judges from Florida's Supreme Court and two District Court judges meet on Tuesday following elections to analyze and certify results for state and federal offices. The State Board of Polling meets no later than 17 days after elections to poll and certify results for state and federal offices. The Secretary of State must poll and certify results for state and federal offices no later than 17 days after election. The State Board of Elections meets on fourth Monday in November to poll and determine results for state and federal offices.
County officials review local election statements on Friday after election day and transmit results to State Election Commission before Saturday following election. Local officials review local election statements and transmit results to Secretary of State within three days after election. The Board meets on or before 20th day after election to discuss results for state and federal offices with conclusion no later than 40th day after election. County officials meet between third and fourteenth days after elections to discuss results for local elections. The Board meets within 31 days after election to analyze and declare results for state and federal offices.
County officials review local election statements and transmit results to Secretary of State no later than second Tuesday after election.
