1/ M-06 provides that the Association (the corporation) hires the election vendor. 

I never said otherwise.

2/ In regard to contracts of this size, the Association (the corporation) can act only with approval from its Board, i.e., in this instance, the Board approves the hiring of the vendor.

Agreed.

3/ M-06 provides further that the EC approves the contract with the vendor, which I read as meaning the EC, since it runs elections, approves the scope and terms of services to be provided by the election vendor. 

I suppose your opinion is one interpretation of the M-06 language. The language needs clarification.

4/ The EC supervises the election vendor.

I never said otherwise.

5/ No OPA Committee, including the EC, has any legal standing to enter into contracts; only OPA, Inc., acting through its GM or Board (depending on the magnitude of the contract), can enter into contracts.

Agreed. Never suggested otherise.

I see no possible scenario where, as you posit, the EC would "refuse" to proceed with negotiations with the selected vendor or would "refuse" to work with the selected vendor.

Under M-06 The committee has every right to refuse to accept a board imposed vendor. The board can replace the committee. Likely? Of course not. The Committee will cave to the will of the board.

The EC members have been conscientious and responsible from the beginning, and I see no reason to think this won't continue from now to the conclusion of the election.   

I  disagree. For example, the committee has been meeting many times according to the chairman. Up until now hardly any, if any, of those meetings were announced. Holding committee meetings without informing association  members as to time and place certainly appears to be a clear violation of the HOA Act

Final comment -- there was nothing "disgraceful" that happened at Saturday's meeting. That's hyperbole, Joe, even if one may disagree with aspects of how the meeting went.

Not hyperbole in my view. The chairman of th Election Commmittee made a presentation o the Board of Directors that undermined the vote of Election Committee. As far as I am concerned, that was disgraceful. It was readily apparent that committee member Cheryl Jacobs was equally upset about what Ransdell did at the board meeting. There was no mistake about the anger in her voice.