Reminder: Assessment payment could impact voter status

(June 26, 2020) The Ocean Pines Elections Committee is reminding homeowners that paying assessments by the voting eligibility deadline, July 1, is a prerequisite to vote in this year’s election.
 
The Ocean Pines Board, in April, extended the annual assessment deadline to Aug. 1, citing concerns that homeowners are facing unique and unprecedented difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   
 
However, the later date means those waiting to pay could be rendered ineligible to vote. According to Ocean Pines bylaws, no member may cast a ballot if, 35 days prior to the voting deadline, the member has failed to pay the annual assessment charge. 
 
The voting eligibility deadline is July 1 and therefore, to be an eligible voter, the assessment must be paid by that date.
 
For questions about voter eligibility or assessment payment status, contact the membership office at 410-641-7717 ext. 3031, or email [email protected].
 
Elections Committee Chairman Steve Habeger said ballots for the 2020 Ocean Pines Board of Directors Election would be mailed the week of July 6, and must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5. 
 
Ballots may be returned by mail to the Berlin Post Office, using the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope included in the election mailing to all eligible voters. Ineligible voters will receive notice of their voting status, as well as notice of the August annual meeting of membership. 
 
Alternately, ballots may be returned in person to a ballot box provided by the Association. The ballot box location will be announced, shortly.
 
“Remember, your vote counts and, to make sure your vote counts, please make sure your ballot is received by the deadline of Aug. 5,” Habeger said.
 
For questions about the election, call the Ocean Pines Elections hotline at 410-208-3989 or email [email protected]. 
 
This year, three candidates are vying for two seats on the Ocean Pines Board, which is the governing body of the Association. The two candidates with the most votes will each earn a three-year term on the Board.
 
Running are incumbents Colette Horn and Doug Parks, and newcomer Stuart Lakernick.
 
To help inform voters, each candidate provided a biographical statement and answered questions from the Elections Committee. That information is available online here www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/news_content?announcementId=178&backURL=/web/pages/blogs, and will also be included in the election mailing.
 
The three candidates also recently participated in an online forum moderated by the Elections Committee, which is viewable on the Ocean Pines YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/sdWZUVafLEY. 
 
Key upcoming election dates are as follows:
 

• Voter eligibility deadline: July 1
• Ballots mailed to eligible voters: Week of July 6
• Ballot receipt deadline: Aug. 5
• Ballots counted and vote totals announced: Aug. 7
• Annual meeting: Aug. 8 at 9 a.m., at a location to be determined

Keep up with future election announcements and other Association news at www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/opa-news.