Companies Act 2014 section 1109

Traded PLC may permit vote to be cast in advance by correspondence

Section 1109 allows a traded public limited company to permit shareholders to cast their votes in advance of a general meeting by correspondence, subject to proportionate identification requirements and a deadline no earlier than 24 hours before the vote concludes.

• A traded PLC may allow shareholders to vote in advance by correspondence for any poll to be taken at a general meeting
• Any requirements or restrictions on advance voting must be limited to verifying the voter's identity and must be proportionate to that aim
• The PLC is not obliged to count advance votes received after a deadline it specifies, but that deadline cannot be set more than 24 hours before the vote is due to conclude
• This provision originates from the EU Shareholders' Rights Directive (2007/36/EC), transposed into Irish law by S.I. 316/2009