Same Rules For All Voters
Andrew Guy, Calista President and CEO
Storyknife, September/October 2026 edition
Each year, Shareholders influence the future of our corporation by voting in the Annual Meeting. Calista held its 52nd Annual Meeting in June. Quyana to all who cast their vote and took the additional step of providing feedback during the voting period and in-person at the Annual Meeting in Bethel.
To adhere to our core value of continuous improvement, Calista has responded over the years to Shareholder feedback to improve access to voting and ensure equal representation to all Calista Shareholders. We also advocate for careful compliance with state corporate election laws to make sure voting is open and fair to all. I’d like to address some questions that we’ve heard from Shareholders on these matters.
Campaigning
Every year before the Annual Meeting, Calista provides information directly to Board of Director applicants, and also to Shareholders via our website and Facebook page, about compliance with state proxy solicitation rules. Under state law, communications (social media posts, fliers, mailed items, etc.) made to 30 or more Shareholders constitute a proxy solicitation if they attempt to influence how Shareholders vote.
Everyone has the right to free speech and may ask questions, raise concerns, support candidates, oppose candidates and share opinions. However, the State of Alaska has special rules that regulate proxy solicitations. Proxy solicitations must not contain a material misrepresentation. A statement is material if a Shareholder would consider it important in deciding how to vote. A statement is a misrepresentation if it is false or misleading with respect to a material fact or omits a material fact under certain circumstances. Proxy solicitations must also be accompanied by certain disclosures and filed with the State of Alaska when they are distributed to Shareholders. Following these requirements is respectful to Shareholders and helps ensure our elections are open and fair.
Proxy Committee
Like Alaska’s fishing proxy, where someone is allowed to fish for another person who may not be able to fish, proxy voting allows a Shareholder to direct another to cast their votes on their behalf. In doing so, the Shareholder’s votes are cast whether or not the Shareholder physically attends the Annual Meeting in person. As stated on the paper and electronic voting forms, “Your shares will be voted by the Proxy Committee as you direct.”
While some corporations have different rules, Calista’s corporate bylaws and policies do not authorize the Proxy Committee to redirect a Shareholder’s votes. Shareholder proxies are gathered and safeguarded by an independent Inspector of Elections until the day of the Annual Meeting. The Inspector of Elections presents the Proxy Committee with a ballot reflecting the final total of the votes as directed by the Shareholder proxies. The Proxy Committee may not make changes and approves this ballot. Then the votes are tabulated by the Inspector of Elections with the votes cast by those attending the meeting in person. The result: only votes cast by Shareholders, either in person or as directed by Shareholders in their proxies, are counted to elect Directors.
Counting Votes
As described in proxy materials, all votes are received and counted by the independent Inspector of Elections. Not Calista. For the past several years, the Inspector of Elections has been Sramek-Hightower, a certified public accounting firm in Anchorage. This adds another layer to ensure Calista Shareholder votes are counted and validated by someone who is not a Calista Shareholder, employee or Director.
To adhere to our core value of continuous improvement, Calista has responded over the years to Shareholder feedback to improve access to voting and ensure equal representation to all Calista Shareholders.
Calista has also heard from Shareholders that they would like to see the certified results issued by the Inspector of Elections. Starting this year, Calista is posting the certified results at MyCalista.com. Calista Shareholders can register for free at MyCalista.com and receive access to other digital features including signing up for direct deposit, updating contact information, and more.
We hope this information helps clarify how Calista Shareholder voting works for Annual Meetings.
Click to find a helpful brochure about proxy solicitation for ANCSA Shareholders.
Learn More about Annual Meeting on CalistaCorp.com