how do i use common stock to vote at company meetings 
most ordinary common shares come with one vote per share granting shareholders the right to vote on corporate actions often conducted at company shareholder meeting 11 if you cannot attend you can cast your vote by proxy where a third party will vote on your behalf 12 the most important votes are taken on issues like the company engaging in a merger or acquisition whom to elect to the board of directors or whether to approve stock splits or dividends 