A. If only one of the multiple owners of a unit is present at a meeting of the association, he is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to that unit. If more than one of the multiple owners are present, the votes allocated to that unit may be cast only in accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the multiple owners, unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise. There is a majority agreement if any one of the multiple owners casts the votes allocated to that unit without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other owners of the unit.
B. Votes allocated to a unit may be cast pursuant to a proxy duly executed by a unit owner. If a unit is owned by more than one person, each owner of the unit may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other owners of the unit through a duly executed proxy. A unit owner may not revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section except by actual notice of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the association. A proxy is void if it is not dated or purports to be revocable without notice. A proxy terminates one year after its date, unless it specifies a shorter term.
C. If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters affecting the condominium be cast by lessees rather than unit owners of leased units:
(1) the provisions of Subsections A and B of this section apply to lessees as if they were unit owners;
(2) unit owners who have leased their units to other persons may not cast votes on those specified matters; and
(3) lessees are entitled to notice of meetings, access to records and other rights respecting those matters as if they were unit owners. Unit owners shall also be given notice, in the manner provided in Section 41 [47-7C-8 NMSA 1978] of the Condominium Act, of all meetings at which lessees may be entitled to vote.
D. No votes allocated to a unit owned by the association may be cast.
History: Laws 1982, ch. 27, § 43.
ANNOTATIONSCompiler's notes. — This section is substantially similar to § 3-110 of the Uniform Condominium Act.
COMMISSIONERS' COMMENT
Subsection (c) [Subsection C] addresses an increasingly important matter in the governance of condominiums: the role of tenants occupying units owned by investors or other persons. Most present statutes require voting by owners in the association. However, it may be desirable to give lessees, rather than lessors, of units the right to vote on issues involving day-to-day operation both because the lessees may have a greater interest than the lessors and because it is desirable to have lessees feel they are an integral part of the condominium community.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 15A Am. Jur. 2d Condominiums and Cooperative Apartments §§ 14, 16.
31 C.J.S. Estates § 153 et seq.