What is a proxy?

• A. A document granting voting rights to the board chair
• B. A request to abstain from voting
• C. A written statement authorizing another person to cast a vote on the signer's behalf
• D. A type of power of attorney unrelated to meetings

Answer: (C)

A proxy is a written statement by a member authorizing another person to vote on the member’s behalf at a meeting. In community associations, proxies let someone who can’t attend still have their vote counted. The document typically names who will vote and may include directions on how to vote on specific issues; it’s usually tied to a specific meeting and can often be revoked by the member. This is different from asking someone to abstain (that would be a request not to vote) and different from a broad power of attorney (which covers more than just meeting voting). It also isn’t about giving voting rights to the board chair; it’s about authorizing a particular person to cast your vote at a given meeting.