Companies Act 1985

373Right to demand a poll

(1)A provision contained in a company's articles is void in so far as it would have the effect either—

(a)of excluding the right to demand a poll at a general meeting on any question other than the election of the chairman of the meeting or the adjournment of the meeting; or

(b)of making ineffective a demand for a poll on any such question which is made either—

(i)by not less than 5 members having the right to vote at the meeting; or

(ii)by a member or members representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or

(iii)by a member or members holding shares in the company conferring a right to vote at the meeting, being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right.

(2)The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a meeting of a company is deemed also to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll; and for the purposes of subsection (1) a demand by a person as proxy for a member is the same as a demand by the member.