[§414-149]  Voting for directors; cumulative voting.  (a)  Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

     (b)  If, not less than forty-eight hours prior to the time fixed for any annual or special meeting, any shareholder or shareholders deliver to any officer of the corporation, a request that the election of directors to be elected at the meeting be by cumulative voting, then the directors to be elected at the meeting shall be chosen as follows:

     (1)  Each shareholder present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall have a number of votes equal to the number of shares of capital stock owned by the shareholder multiplied by the number of directors to be elected at the meeting;

     (2)  Each shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate the votes of the shareholder and to give all of the votes to one nominee or to distribute the votes among any or all of the nominees; and

     (3)  The nominees receiving the highest number of votes on the foregoing basis, up to the total number of directors to be elected at the meeting, shall be the successful nominees.

The right to have directors elected by cumulative voting as provided in this section shall exist notwithstanding that provision therefor is not included in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, and this right shall not be restricted or qualified by any provisions of the articles of incorporation or bylaws; provided that this right may be restricted, qualified, or eliminated by a provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of any corporation having a class of equity securities registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are either listed on a national securities exchange or traded over-the-counter on the National Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System.  This section shall not prevent the filling of vacancies in the board of directors, which vacancies may be filled in a manner that may be provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws. [L 2000, c 244, pt of §1]