What is proxy voting?

Proxy voting lets a homeowner appoint someone else, an owner, a partner, sometimes a tenant, to vote on their behalf when they can’t attend a meeting. Bylaws set the rules and typically define two types: a general proxy, where the holder votes however they think best, and a limited proxy, where they’re bound to vote exactly as instructed. Most governing documents also set an expiration for the proxy, often just the meeting it was issued for, and let the owner revoke it in writing any time before votes are cast. Some communities now accept electronic proxies too, though how those get validated still depends on state law and the association’s own rules.

Why does proxy voting matter?

Proxies get confused with ballots often enough that owners think they’ve voted properly when the form was filled out wrong, and depending on the state, a bad proxy simply doesn’t count. They can also be misused, a board candidate going door to door collecting general proxies to vote for themselves, which is exactly what clear bylaws and consistent communication from the board are meant to prevent.

When You’ll Run Into This

This becomes especially relevant right before an important vote, budget approval, an election, when a board wants to make sure enough members participate one way or another. Our guide to what every manager needs to know about HOA proxy votes covers how to run this process well.