This past year, over 95% of all of the shares voted through Broadridge were voted electronically. To make proxy voting even simpler and more convenient for shareholders, companies are adding QR codes to allow investors to vote right from their Smartphones.
Computershare, a leading financial services provider for the global securities industry, introduced an industry-first use of QR codes printed on proxy and voting instruction forms. By scanning the QR (Quick Response) code with a Smartphone camera’s QR reader, voters will be connected directly to the InvestorVote Mobile site.
“This advance is aligned with the reality of how people communicate today,” said Jay McHale, President, Computershare Equity Services US. “This is just another example of Computershare developing products based on the way people want to transact.”
The mobile optimized InvestorVote website will place Computershare’s clients in a great position to capture investors’ votes. According to research from Nielsen, 46% of US mobile phone users now have a Smartphone, a trend that is continuing to grow.
Richard J. Daly, chief executive officer at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., the nation’s largest investor communications company, stated that Broadridge is committed to making the investments in technology necessary to make proxy voting easier and more accessible. As an example, he mentioned the firm’s upcoming implementation of support for QR codes to provide shareholders with easier access via their Smartphones and tablet computers to proxy ballots and company communications.
By providing investors with a convenient and secure alternative for the way they cast their votes, investor engagement and voter participation can be increased. This moves the annual meeting voting process and the shareowner experience into the future.
On a related topic, check out virtual annual meetings at: www.afpi.com/Virtual_Annual_Meetings