Proxy voting

Is proxy voting a universal right such that it cannot be restricted or prohibited?

Charles,

Nope, it is not a right and will depend on what your governing documents allow. In Florida the Statutes state that an association MAY allow proxies but not that they must. You should check to see if the State of Alabama addresses their use.

Charles,

Well, that was 1905 and it was Tennessee when there were no HOAs. Things have changed a whole lot.
HOAs have the rights to write and create their own rules for elections and voting which also is where proxies are. States have rules for HOAs as well. HOAs are not government agencies nor under govenrment rule other than those rules and laws which are adopted for the HOA system of living. Sorry but your argument won't hold up currently.

Charles,

Since the site indicates that your from Alabama, If your Association is incorporated the following info on proxies should apply:

Alabama Corporate Law Section 10-2B-7.22 - Proxies

However, check your Association Documents as well as they may differ.

Tim

OK, Charles, I did your work for you. FYI, all I did was do a search for "TN statutes".

Following is the proxy statute from the TN Non profit corp statutes. Note that the very first sentence says that this statute applies ONLY if your bylaws do NOT limit proxy voting. Therefore, if your bylaws say there shall be no proxy voting then this statute does NOT apply.

48-57-205. Proxies. —
(a) Unless the charter or bylaws prohibit or limit proxy voting, a member may appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act for the member by signing an appointment form either personally or by an attorney-in-fact.
(b) An appointment of a proxy is effective when received by the secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes. An appointment is valid for eleven (11) months unless a different period is expressly provided in the appointment form.
(c) An appointment of a proxy is revocable by the member unless the appointment form conspicuously states that it is irrevocable and the appointment is coupled with an interest. Appointments coupled with an interest include the appointment of:
(1) A pledgee;
(2) A person who purchased or agreed to purchase the membership;
(3) A creditor of the corporation who extended it credit under terms requiring the appointment;
(4) An employee of the corporation whose employment contract requires the appointment; or
(5) A party to a voting agreement created under § 48-57-301.
(d) The death or incapacity of the member appointing a proxy does not affect the right of the corporation to accept the proxy's authority unless notice of the death or incapacity is received by the secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes before the proxy exercises authority under the appointment.
(e) An appointment made irrevocable under subsection (c) becomes revocable when the interest with which it is coupled is extinguished.
(f) A transferee for value of a membership subject to an irrevocable appointment may revoke the appointment if the transferee did not know of its existence when the transferee acquired the membership, and the existence of the irrevocable appointment was not noted conspicuously on the certificate representing the membership.
(g) Appointment of a revocable proxy is revoked by the person appointing the proxy:
(1) Attending any meeting and voting in person; or
(2) Signing and delivering to the secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate proxy votes either a writing stating that the appointment of the proxy is revoked or a subsequent appointment form.
(h) Subject to § 48-57-208 and any express limitation on the proxy's authority appearing on the face of the appointment form, a corporation is entitled to accept the proxy's vote or other action as that of the member making the appointment.
[Acts 1987, ch. 242, § 7.24.]