Quorum Defined. A "quorum" of the membership is the required minimum of number of members who must be present in person, by proxy and/or by ballot before the association may conduct business at a membership meeting. (Robert's Rules, 10th ed., pp. 20, 334.) The minimum number of members is usually defined in the CC&Rs or Bylaws. The more common quorum percentage is 25%, 33%, 50%, 51%, or a simple majority of the members.

Suspension of Voting Rights. If voting rights are suspended, quorum numbers are adjusted. For example, if an association consists of 100 members and quorum is a majority of the voting power, quorum is 51 members. If, however, 10 members had the voting rights suspended for being delinquent, the voting power is 90 and the quorum is 46.

Lack of Quorum. If a quorum is not present, the members at the meeting may adjourn the meeting to a later date but may not conduct any other business. If the bylaws provide for a descending quorum, the membership may be able to conduct business at the subsequent meeting if the lower quorum requirements are met.

Loss of Quorum. Members at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough members to leave less than a quorum. Actions may continue to be approved if approved by at least a majority of the members required to constitute a quorum. Corp. Code §7512(c).

RECOMMENDATION: Associations can amend their governing documents to eliminate quorum requirements for the election of directors.