Define: Cumulative Voting

Cumulative Voting
Cumulative Voting
Quick Summary of Cumulative Voting

Cumulative voting is a method used in corporate governance and elections where shareholders or voters can allocate multiple votes to one or more candidates or options. Instead of casting one vote per share or per person, shareholders or voters can accumulate their votes and cast them all for a single candidate or distribute them among multiple candidates. This system allows minority shareholders or voters to have a greater impact on the outcome by concentrating their votes on specific candidates or issues. Cumulative voting is often used to promote diversity and representation in corporate boards, political elections, and other decision-making processes.

What is the dictionary definition of Cumulative Voting?
Dictionary Definition of Cumulative Voting

n. in corporations, a system of voting by shareholders for directors in which the shareholder can multiply his voting shares by the number of candidates and vote them all for one person for director. This is intended to give minority shareholders a chance to elect at least one director whom they favour. For example, if there are five directors to be elected and 10,000 shares issued, a shareholder with 1,000 shares could vote 5,000 for his candidate rather than being limited to 1,000 for each of the five candidates, always outvoted by shareholders with 1,001 or more shares.

Full Definition Of Cumulative Voting

Cumulative voting is a method used in corporate elections where shareholders are allowed to allocate their votes in a manner that is not limited to one vote per share. This allows shareholders to concentrate their votes on a single candidate or distribute them among multiple candidates as they see fit. The purpose of cumulative voting is to provide minority shareholders with a greater opportunity to elect their preferred candidates to the board of directors or other corporate positions. This method is often used to promote diversity and representation within corporate governance.

Cumulative Voting FAQ'S

Cumulative voting is a voting system that allows shareholders to allocate their votes in a way that gives them more influence over the election of directors in a company.

In cumulative voting, shareholders are given a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares they own. They can distribute these votes among the candidates as they see fit, including casting all their votes for a single candidate.

No, cumulative voting is not mandatory for all companies. It is typically used in situations where minority shareholders want to have a greater say in the election of directors.

Cumulative voting can be used in both public and private companies, as long as it is permitted by the company’s bylaws or articles of incorporation.

Some jurisdictions may impose certain limitations on cumulative voting, such as a maximum number of votes that can be cast for a single candidate or a minimum percentage of shares required to use cumulative voting.

Cumulative voting is primarily used for the election of directors, but it can also be used for other important decisions, such as approving mergers or acquisitions.

Cumulative voting allows minority shareholders to have a greater influence in the election of directors, ensuring that their interests are represented on the board. It promotes diversity and can help prevent a concentration of power in the hands of a few shareholders.

One potential disadvantage of cumulative voting is that it can make the election process more complex and time-consuming. It may also result in less stability on the board, as directors with fewer votes may be more easily replaced.

Yes, cumulative voting can be used in conjunction with other voting systems, such as majority voting or proxy voting. This allows shareholders to have different levels of influence depending on the specific decision being made.

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This glossary post was last updated: 10th April, 2024.

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