edev - KCCLLC can't lock a share. It's required. PERIOD.
1.3 has this coming.
21c) Ok, just exactly WHY can't I vote via and/or directly with KCCLLC?. This whole broker process seems stupid, complicated, etc?
The fundamental reason is that KCCLLC can't lock your shares and put them in the right DTC-election Contra-CUSIP account. PERIOD. Only your broker can.
A share voted, that cannot be placed into the DTC-election account, doesn't count as a vote or a "release". PERIOD.
And if you blindly mail a ballot back to a broker, they need to be "in the loop" to lock shares, etc.
Read the Press release by the EC -- they cover this very well. It's stickied.