The election prescribed by subdivision (d) of Section 11526, shall be called by the board of directors or the president and every policyholder of the class or classes for whose benefit the stock is to be acquired, whose insurance shall have been in force for at least one year prior to the election shall have one vote, regardless of the number of policies or amount of insurance the policyholder holds, and regardless of whether the policies are policies of life insurance or policies of disability insurance. Notice of the election shall be given to policyholders entitled to vote by mail from the principal office of the insurer at least 30 days prior to the date set for the election, in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the policyholder at that person’s last known address.
Voting shall be by one of the following methods:
(a) At a meeting of those policyholders, held pursuant to the notice, by ballot in person or by proxy.
(b) If not by the method described in subdivision (a), then by mail pursuant to a procedure and on forms to be prescribed by the plan.
The election shall be conducted under the direction and supervision of three impartial and disinterested inspectors appointed by the insurer and approved by the commissioner. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear at the meeting or fails or refuses to act at the election, the vacancy, if occurring in advance of the convening of the meeting or in advance of the opening of the mail vote, may be filled in the manner prescribed for the appointment of inspectors and, if occurring at the meeting or during the canvass of the mail vote, may be filled by the person acting as chairperson of the meeting or designated for that purpose in the plan. The decision, act, or certificate of a majority of the inspectors shall be effective in all respects as the decision, act, or certificate of all. The inspectors of election shall determine the number of policyholders, the voting power of each, the policyholders represented at the meeting or voting by mail, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies. They shall receive votes, hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, determine the result, and do such other acts as are proper to conduct the vote with fairness to all policyholders. The inspectors of election shall, before commencing performance of their duties, subscribe to and file with the insurer and with the commissioner an oath that they, and each of them, will perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practicable. On the request of the insurer, the commissioner, a policyholder or his or her proxy, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge or question or matter determined by them and execute a certificate of any fact found by them. They shall also certify the result of the vote to the insurer and to the commissioner. Any report or certificate made by them shall be prima facie evidence of facts stated therein. All necessary expenses incurred in connection with the election shall be paid by the insurer. For the purpose of this section, a quorum shall consist of 5 percent of the policyholders of the insurer entitled to vote at the election.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 142, Sec. 94.)