TLDR:
Proxy voting allows a shareholder who cannot attend a company meeting to authorize another person or entity to vote on their behalf, commonly used in public company governance and investment fund management.
Proxy Voting in Corporate Governance Reform
Proxy voting has become a powerful tool for shareholder activism, with institutional investors and proxy advisory firms like ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services) and Glass Lewis using their influence to push for corporate governance reforms, executive compensation changes, environmental policies, and board diversity. Shareholders of public companies can submit ‘shareholder proposals’ through the proxy process, compelling companies to include these proposals in annual meeting materials for shareholder vote — a mechanism environmental and social activists have used effectively to influence corporate behavior.
Proxy Process in Public Companies
For public companies, the annual proxy season runs from the proxy statement filing through the annual meeting. Shareholders receive proxy materials (notice of meeting, proxy statement, proxy card), review proposals, and either vote in advance or attend the meeting. Major institutional investors typically vote based on proxy advisor recommendations from ISS or Glass Lewis. Activist investors may run their own proxy contests, soliciting alternative votes and proposing alternative director slates.
Proxy Voting in Private Companies
In private companies, proxy voting commonly arises in venture-backed startups where investors hold a portion of common stock through nominee or voting trust arrangements, or where founders retain proxy authority over employee or angel shares for governance simplicity. Investor rights agreements often regulate when and how proxies may be granted, requiring counterparty approval for substantial proxy delegations to third parties.