How to Run a Fair Block Vote (and Keep a Record)

Sooner or later your block needs to decide something together: whether to repaint the communal hallway, which contractor to use, or how to spend the reserve fund. Done badly, these decisions drag on for months and breed resentment. Done well, they take a week and leave everyone feeling heard.

Step 1: Frame a single, clear question

Vague questions get vague answers. Instead of 'what should we do about the hallway?', ask 'Should we repaint the communal hallway in the agreed colour for £1,800, split per the service charge?'. A yes/no question with the cost and the split attached is something people can actually answer.

Step 2: Give people the information first

• Share the quote or proposal a few days before the vote opens.
• State clearly who pays what and when.
• Set a deadline so the decision does not drift.

Step 3: Make voting effortless

Turnout collapses when voting is a hassle. A reply-all email thread is the worst option: people miss it, votes get double-counted, and there is no clean tally. A simple in-app vote with a running yes/no count solves all three problems at once.

Step 4: Record the outcome permanently

The single most valuable thing about a proper vote is the record. Six months later, when someone asks 'who agreed to spend that?', you can point to the result rather than re-litigating it. CommonCouncil keeps every vote and its tally on file, so decisions stay decided.