2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 68 - REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY › Chapter 43 - Management of Cooperatives › Section 4310 - Voting; proxies

§ 4310. Voting; proxies.
(a) Multiple owners of a unit.--
If only one of the multiple proprietary lessees of a unit is present or represented by proxy at a meeting of the association, he is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to the cooperative interest of which that unit is a part. If more than one of the multiple proprietary lessees are present, the votes allocated to that cooperative interest may be cast only in accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the multiple proprietary lessees, unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise. There is majority agreement if any one of the multiple proprietary lessees casts the votes allocated to that cooperative interest without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other proprietary lessees of the cooperative interest.
(b) Proxies.--
Votes allocated to a cooperative interest may be cast pursuant to a proxy duly executed by a proprietary lessee. If there is more than one proprietary lessee of a unit, each proprietary lessee of the unit may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other proprietary lessees of the unit through a duly executed proxy. A proprietary lessee may not revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section except by actual notice of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the association. A proxy is void if it is not dated or purports to be revocable without notice. A proxy terminates one year after its date, unless it specifies a shorter term. The bylaws may provide for requirements and a limit on the class of persons who may hold proxies pursuant to this subsection.
(c) Lessees other than proprietary lessees.--
If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters affecting the cooperative be cast by lessees other than proprietary lessees of leased units:
(1) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) apply to lessees as if they were proprietary lessees.
(2) Proprietary lessees who have leased their units to other persons may not cast votes on those specified matters.
(3) Lessees are entitled to notice of meetings, access to records and other rights respecting those matters as if they were proprietary lessees.
Proprietary lessees must also be given notice, in the manner provided in section 4308 (relating to meetings), of all meetings at which lessees may be entitled to vote. For the purposes of this subsection, the association shall maintain a register of lessees, showing the name and address of each lessee.
(d) Cooperative interests owned by association.--
No votes allocated to a cooperative interest owned by the association may be cast.
(e) Approved methods of voting.--
Methods of voting shall be in accordance with the following:
(1) Except to the extent expressly prohibited in an association's declaration or bylaws, the voting rights of a unit owner may be cast or given in the following ways:
(i) in person or by proxy at a meeting of the association;
(ii) by absentee or electronic ballot in accordance with this subpart; or
(iii) by another method of voting expressly provided in the association's declaration or bylaws.
(2) An absentee or electronic ballot may:
(i) Be counted as a unit owner present and voting for the purpose of establishing a quorum, and otherwise, only for agenda items appearing on the ballot.
(ii) Not be counted even if properly delivered, if the unit owner attends the meeting to vote in person. A vote cast at a meeting by a unit owner supersedes a vote submitted by absentee or electronic ballot previously submitted for that agenda item.
(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "electronic ballot" means a ballot cast or given by electronic transmission over the Internet, vote management system or the association's community network, whether by direct connection, intranet, telecopier, electronic mail or other technological means, if the identity of the unit owner submitting the ballot can be confirmed and a receipt of the electronic transmission and ballot can be made available to the unit owner.
(f) Acclamation.--
Unless the bylaws of the association provide otherwise, in the event that an election for a position on the executive board is uncontested, the officer or chair presiding at the election meeting may declare the nominee elected by acclamation after determining there are no further nominations.
(Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1750, No.115, eff. 180 days)
2022 Amendment.
Act 115 added subsecs. (e) and (f).
Cross References.
Section 4310 is referred to in sections 4103, 4219, 4323 of this title.