What is the definition of a "proxy"

"proxy" is widely applied - correctly or not - to both a piece of paper and to the individual / corporation receiving whatever authorization is given.

Might be easier to apply terms like and 'proxy-giver' or 'proxy recipient' or 'proxy-donor' and 'proxy-donee'.

As one of my fellow posters at CAFCOR.org loves to comment ironically : " Proxies are great. No eyes and no ears. . . "

Limits on who can give & receive should be checked in your state's laws & CCRs. Where condo laws empower a mortgagee/chargee to trigger transfer of vote (authority), such might also override a borrower's power to issue proxy too. Watch also how the term gets mixed up when the proxy document is used as a ballot.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/article/ZZ/20130628/NEWS/130628840

This is dependent upon state laws and the association's bylaws.

In my state, we are not permitted to use proxies in HOA's or condos. We may designate someone to attend a board meeting in our place but there is no provision that I am aware of for allowing someone to attend a members' meeting in place of the owner. Part of the reason we do not use proxies is that every membership vote must allow voting in person or by mail; this pretty much precludes making motions or nominations from the floor.

From what I have read about proxies, the person who attends the meeting with someone else's proxy in hand must be a member himself. In the example you give, the father could not attend or vote because he is not a member, regardless of having his daughter's proxy authorizing him to do both.

Our documents allow proxies - and our attorney told us that a homeowner can select anyone to be their proxy - it doesn't have to be another homeowner. This is what we sent out to homeowners to help explain -

A proxy is a form that gives someone the authority to represent another person. Our HOA proxies are used in two ways – one is to represent households not in attendance at the meeting in order to achieve quorum (percentage of members or households needed to conduct business); the other is so those households not in attendance can have a vote cast in any business conducted.

Proxies are NOT ballots (so no candidates are named on the proxy)– they are simply to allow a household to choose a representative to vote FOR them.

Proxy: Someone who is authorized to serve in one's place at a meeting, especially with the right to vote on behalf of another.

Proxy Voting: The procedure of delegating the right to vote by one person to another.

Proxy Designation Form - The written document, signed by the member, identifying whom the proxy representative is. This form may be in many different forms and State corporate laws may or may not require specific things be included on the form.

General Proxy: A general proxy allows a proxy holder to vote on any matter that may be undertaken.

Directed proxy - directs the proxy representative to cast votes a specific way.

For more info, see:

The Ins and Outs of Proxy Voting from the NY Times

To Proxy or Not to Proxy, that is the Question from a FL legal firm

Controlling Proxy Abuse from A Guide for Association Practitioners

Thank you everyone! Very helpful information and opinions! We also found a very interesting article regarding this as well for anyone interested.

http://www.parli.com/newsletter/proxy-voting