The Foundation for Community Association Research’s 2026 Homeowner Satisfaction Survey reports that 88% of residents vote in national elections, 83% participate in state and local elections, and nearly seven in 10 (69%) votes in their community association board elections. These statistics point to one thing: #CAIvotes!
This November, voters will elect all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate. This year, voters in 39 states will elect governors with 18 governors running for reelection and 21 open seats due to term limits or retirements.
Flags are more relevant than ever considering community association residents’ strong track record of civic engagement combined with the sheer volume of ballot content and political signage.
Conversations about political signs and flags in community associations focus on display and content and can be a frequent topic of discussion. Community association boards, managers, and residents must be educated on applicable laws and their governing documents to ensure all flags and signs are acceptable.
The First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech without restriction by government entities or state actors. It does not apply to private organizations like community associations. Associations can adopt and enforce reasonable restrictions regulating political and noncommercial speech within their communities. However, some states provide a broader free-speech right that does not depend on state action.
CAI Public Policy Recommendation
CAI recognizes and supports the rights of residential community associations to regulate political and noncommercial signs within communities consistent with federal, state, and local laws. CAI supports legislation recognizing the core principles of self-governance, self-regulation, and co-ownership of common property and the community association housing model balanced with owners’ rights of free speech.
Every community is unique, and legislation should allow an association to develop reasonable rules and regulations concerning the time, location, materials, size, number, and manner of where political and noncommercial signs, displays, or activities are located while preserving freedom of political expression.
State Laws and Association Rules
Laws governing political signs vary by state. Currently, 28 states have statutes regarding political flags and signage. If your state does not have an explicit law, review your association’s governing documents and consult with your community manager and attorney before moving forward.
CAI supports legally sound, fair, and equitable political sign rules and uniform enforcement procedures in community associations. Review CAI’s resources to effectively manage rules and regulations in your community. Learn more about states that currently have political sign or flag legislation here.
Communities may adopt individual rules to reflect the needs and desires of their residents. It is important for managers and boards to send approved rules through email, upload notices on the community website, and plainly display them to encourage compliance and transparency. This information should include how many days before an election a sign can be put up and how many days after an election a sign must be taken down.
CAI calls on homeowner leaders, community managers, residents, and attorneys to review governing documents periodically and work together to create rules that bring the community together.
To help community association boards of directors navigate these important conversations, CAI created the Community Association Living Resource and the Community Association Civility Pledge. We encourage boards to adopt these principles and share these resources with homeowners as well as share CAI’s Voter Resources Center for more information on how to ensure every vote is heard.
