Overview
Portfolios on the Ballot (POTB) is an online tool that tracks selected shareholder proposals assessed as having potential system-wide economic impacts. It focuses on proxy voting issues linked to environmental and social externalities that may affect diversified portfolios. The tool is relevant to finance professionals assessing long-term risks beyond individual company performance.
Organisation behind the tool
The tool is developed and maintained by The Shareholder Commons, a non-profit organisation focused on addressing systemic risks that affect diversified investors. POTB is part of its broader work on portfolio-level analysis and investor stewardship. The initiative operates independently and is not a proxy advisory or investment advisory service.
What the tool does
POTB provides structured information on shareholder proposals considered material at a portfolio or system level.
Key functions include:
- Identifying and cataloguing shareholder proposals by theme and proxy season.
- Highlighting proposals linked to environmental, social, and economic system risks.
- Providing brief rationales explaining why proposals may matter to diversified investors.
- Allowing users to review proposals by year, issue area, and company.
- Offering periodic updates and summaries during proxy seasons.
The tool is informational and does not provide voting recommendations or financial advice.
Target audience
The primary audience includes institutional investors and asset owners with diversified portfolios. Other relevant users include:
- Asset managers and stewardship teams.
- ESG and sustainability analysts.
- Academic researchers and policy-focused analysts.
- Civil society organisations involved in investor engagement.
Relevance to finance professionals
POTB can support finance-related analysis in several areas:
Risk assessment
- Identification of system-level risks such as climate change, labour practices, and public health.
- Insight into how corporate practices may create negative externalities affecting the wider economy.
ESG analysis
- Contextual information for evaluating environmental and social shareholder proposals.
- Support for portfolio-level ESG integration rather than company-specific screening alone.
Market and economic context
- Links between corporate behaviour and long-term market stability.
- Awareness of emerging stewardship themes across sectors.
Investment context
- Inputs for long-term investment and stewardship strategies.
- Support for proxy voting policies aligned with diversified portfolio interests.
The tool is designed for analytical and educational use rather than decision-making at the security level.
