Voting rights let shareholders have a formal say in certain company decisions. Ordinary shares often carry one vote each, but some firms issue classes with extra votes or none at all. If you hold shares through a broker, you may still instruct votes according to the custody arrangements.

Key takeaways

  • Not every share class has the same voting power. Check the prospectus or listing documents.
  • Major corporate actions often require shareholder approval under company law and exchange rules.
  • Low turnout can leave control with active holders even when ownership looks widely spread.
  • Economic ownership without votes is common in some dual class structures.