The owner of a community lot is entitled to attend general meetings of the corporation, and is entitled to vote if there are no outstanding amounts payable to the corporation in respect of the lot [Community Titles Act 1996 (SA) ss 84(1), 84(14)]. The owner of a development lot is not entitled to attend or vote at general meetings in his or her capacity as the owner of that lot [s 84(2)].

If at least one of the lots is issued or intended to be used solely or predominantly for residential purposes then the number of votes that may be cast in respect of each of the lots (whether those lots are commercial or residential) is one [s 87(1)(a)]. However if none of the lots are used or intended to be used solely or predominantly for residential purposes then the number of votes that may be cast in respect of each lot is one unless the by-laws prescribe a different number [s 87(1)(b)].

Lots with two or more owners

Where there is more than one owner of a lot and one of them has not been formally appointed to vote on behalf of all the owners, then [s 84(7)]:

Voting by the developer

The Act limits the voting power of the developer of a community scheme who owns one or more community lots. The developer is the person who was the registered proprietor of the land that now comprises the community parcel immediately before the lodgement of the plan of community division [s 3(1)]. The number of votes cast by the developer, and anyone ‘associated’ with the developer according to section 4(2) of the Act, may not exceed the total of votes cast by other community corporation members [s 87(3)]. This is designed to prevent developers changing scheme descriptions and development contracts.

Disclosure of interest

A lot owner who attends and is entitled to vote (other than as a nominee) at a meeting of a community corporation and who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter to be voted on at the meeting must disclose the nature of the interest to the members present at the meeting before the vote is taken [s 85(2a)(a)]. Failure to do so is an offence with a maximum penalty of $15 000.

Similarly, anyone who presides at a meeting of a community corporation and who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter to be voted on at the meeting must disclose the nature of the interest to the members present at the meeting before the vote is taken [s 85(2a)(b)]. Failure to do so is an offence with a maximum penalty of $15 000.

However, an owner of a community lot is not obliged to disclose an interest held in common with all of the owners of the community lots [s 85(2b)].

Absentee votes

A lot owner may exercise an absentee vote by giving the secretary of the corporation written notice of the proposed vote at least six hours before the meeting [s 84(11)].

Written ballots

A lot owner attending a meeting of the corporation may demand a written ballot on any question [s 84(12)]. A person attending a meeting via remote communication such as telephone [s 83(6a); Community Titles Regulations 2011 (SA) reg 16A(3)] may participate in a written ballot if it is provided for in the corporation’s by-laws, or if approved and arranged by the secretary. The person presiding at the meeting has the power to manage a written ballot as they think fit [Community Titles Act 1996 (SA) s 84(13)].

Proxy voting

A copy of each proxy nomination and any general power of attorney appointing a proxy applying in relation to a meeting must be made available by the secretary of the corporation (or, in the case of a nomination relating to the first statutory general meeting, the person initially presiding at the meeting) for inspection by persons attending the meeting before any matter is voted on at the meeting [s 85(10a)]. Failure to do so is an offence with a maximum penalty of $500.

Proxy voting where there is one owner of a lot

A member may appoint another person to vote on their behalf [s 84(3)]. Even if a proxy nomination has been made, an owner may attend and vote at meetings on his or her own behalf [s 84(5)(g)].

A proxy nomination is effective for a period of 12 months or such lesser period as may be specified in the written notice of nomination [s 84(5)(f)]. However, the nomination may be revoked earlier at any time by the lot holder, by giving written notice to the secretary; any contract or agreement purporting to prevent revocation is unenforceable [s 84(5)(e)].

In addition, if the corporation's manager, or an employee of the manager, is nominated as a proxy, the nomination ceases to have effect on the person ceasing to be the corporation's manager or an employee of the manager [s 84(6a)].

A member may specify conditions on the proxy nomination [s 84(5)(c)], for example, how the proxy is to vote on certain matters.

The nomination of a person as a proxy of a member must [s 84(5)]:

Failure to comply with these requirements will invalidate the nomination [s 84(5a)].

Appointment of a proxy by general power of attorney

If an owner appoints a person as their attorney under the Powers of Attorney and Agency Act 1984 (SA) specifically for the purpose of attending and voting at meetings, or specified meetings, of the community corporation, the appointment is effective for a period of 12 months or such lesser period as may be specified in the power of attorney, unless the power of attorney is revoked earlier [Community Titles Act 1996 (SA) s 85(9a)].

If a body corporate manager is appointed as an owner's proxy, a copy of the power of attorney must be given to the secretary of the corporation before the meeting, or the first of the meetings, to which it relates [s 85(9b)].

Proxy voting where there is more than one owner of a lot

Where there is more than one owner of a lot, a person (who may, but need not, be one of the owners) may be nominated by all of the owners to vote on their behalf [s 84(4)].

The owners may specify conditions in relation to the nomination [s 84(6)(ba)].

The nomination of a person as a proxy of multiple owners must [s 84(6)]:

The nomination may be revoked at any time by one of the owners by written notice to the secretary [s 84(6)(c)].

If the corporation's manager, or an employee of the manager, is nominated as a proxy, the nomination ceases to have effect on the person ceasing to be the corporation's manager or an employee of the manager [s 84(6a)].

Disclosure of interest by a proxy

Declaration of a member's interest

If the nomination declares a lot owner’s pecuniary interest in a matter (because the proxy is required to vote in a particular way in relation to the matter and the member has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the matter [see above: s 84(5)(d); s 84(6)(bb)]), then the proxy must declare the member's interest before the vote is taken [s 85(1)(b)]. Failure to declare the member's interest is an offence with a maximum penalty of $15 000.

Declaration of a proxy's interest to the meeting

Similarly, if the proxy has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter to be voted on at the meeting, they must disclose the nature of the interest to the members present at the meeting before the vote is taken [s 85(1)(a)(ii)]. Failure to do so is an offence with a maximum penalty of $15 000.

Declaration of a proxy's interest to the person who nominated them

If a proxy has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any matter to be voted on at a meeting, they must, if it is practicable to do so, disclose the nature of the interest to the person who nominated them before the vote is taken. If this is not practicable, they must disclose the nature of the interest to the person who nominated them as soon as practicable after the vote is taken. Failure to do so is an offence with a maximum penalty of $15 000 [s 85(1)(a)(i)].