Blog

Proxy: Let Your Voice Be Heard

Posted on June 5, 2018 12:00 PM by Melissa Gentry

Annual meetings and special meetings require the association to meet a quorum (a minimum number) of owners represented in order to hold the meeting. If that minimum isn't met then the meeting cannot be held and will have to be called again. This often creates several hundred dollars in extra expenses for the association.

If you’re unable to attend the membership meeting and election, you can still vote by proxy. A proxy is the written authorization that allows one person to appoint another (the proxy holder) to vote on his or her behalf. If you are going to be at the meeting you are good! No proxy is needed. We only need a proxy if you aren't able to attend.

Why would you use a proxy? Maybe you’re traveling during the meeting or have other obligations that prevent you from attending, but you still want your voice to be heard.

The association can only accept one proxy form per house/lot, so be sure to fill out your form accurately. By only accepting one official form, the association doesn't need to check each proxy to determine if it's legally sufficient. It also eliminates any potential problems if the vote is close.

Just be aware that by assigning your proxy to another person, you’ve authorized the proxy holder to vote for you as he or she sees fit. The proxy holder is responsible for voting or abstaining from a vote.

Essentially, a proxy is an act of trust—the proxy giver must trust the judgment of the proxy holder. The proxy giver may think the proxy holder will vote for a certain candidate or issue, but the proxy holder isn’t legally bound by that assumption unless it’s written on the proxy form.

Please note: Board meetings, town hall meetings, and other types of meeting do not require a quorum so no proxy is needed if aren't able to attend. Just let us know if you are going to be there.

To see the date and time of the next meeting for your association, please log in to your account.

You can also RSVP and upload your proxy using this FORM on our site.

See you at the next meeting! If not - then I look forward to seeing you by Proxy!