Manipulating the proxy form to get a by-law passed
have one's thumb of the scale
It's a very old idiom, referring to
merchants, stereotypically butchers, resting their thumb on the scale
pan when weighing meat, making it seem heavier.
A condo board and the property management company want a standard unit
by-law passed. The problem is that 50% plus one of all owners must pass
a new by-law, or a change to an existing by-law, at an owners meeting by
voting either by ballot at the meeting or being represented by a proxy.
Getting 50% plus one of all owners to pass a by-law is very difficult
especially in a condo where 50% or more units are rented by off-site
owner/investors.
So this where manipulating the proxy form can help.
The proxy form has a check box for voting "In Favour", one for voting "Against" and one for voting "Abstain". So far so good.
However, below the check boxes, the proxy form states:
"Note: In the event that no choice is indicated, the Proxy will vote in favour of confirmation of the By-laws."
When the manager or directors go door-to-door asking for proxies so
they can have a quorum to hold the AGM, I am sure that they do not
tell the unsuspecting owners about this trick they are playing on them.
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