What is a proxy ballot?

A proxy ballot is a ballot cast by one shareholder on behalf of another, according to Investopedia. Typically, this occurs when a shareholder cannot attend the corporate meeting where the vote takes place.

A proxy ballot is either direct or general, explains the Colorado Homeowners Association. A direct proxy is a proxy ballot that explicitly outlines how the absentee shareholder wants to vote, whereas a general proxy does not specify how the ballot needs to be cast. Proxy ballots differ from written ballots in that proxies merely assign the right to vote to another shareholder, whereas written ballots represent an actual vote from the original shareholder.