The NYSE issued a warning to investors, as part of its Informed Investor Series, that customers who buy shares on margin may lose their rights to vote some of the shares in their account. It explains that brokerage firms have the right to pledge or loan the securities of a margin customer, and with the shares goes the right to vote. Although this is not an issue when not many of the margin customers wish to vote their shares, it has been an issue in some recent contested elections. See Margin Customers: Know Your Shareholder Rights on Proxies and Dividends.
