CHEMUNG FINANCIAL CORP

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is entitled to vote?

The Corporation has one class of stock outstanding, common stock, $0.01 par value per share. At the close of business on the record date of April 8, 2024, there were 4,751,977 shares outstanding. The holders of these shares are considered shareholders of record and will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Each of these shareholders will receive a Notice of the Annual Meeting and instructions on how to vote their shares. Each share outstanding on the record date is entitled to vote. Shares held in treasury by the Corporation are not eligible to vote and do not count toward a quorum.

What are “broker non-votes” and how are they voted at the Annual Meeting?

Shares of the Corporation common stock can be held in (i) certificate form; (ii) by “book entry” at the Corporation’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC; or (iii) in “street name” at a broker. When shares owned by you are held in street name, the broker will solicit your vote and provide the Corporation with the results of the vote for all of the Corporation shares it holds in your account. On “routine” matters, if you as the beneficial owner of the shares do not provide the broker with voting instructions, the broker has the right to vote these shares in its own discretion. However, a broker is not allowed to exercise its discretion on voting shares held in street name on any “non-routine” matter. On such matters, these shares may only be voted by the broker in accordance with express voting instructions received by the broker from you, the beneficial owner of the shares. The votes attached to such shares, that is, shares that may or may not be voted by a broker except in accordance with the owner’s voting instructions, are referred to as “broker non-votes.”

This year, the only matter that will be considered a “routine” matter is Proposal 4, the ratification of the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm. Proposal 1, the election of directors, Proposal 2, Say-On-Pay, and Proposal 3, Frequency of Say-On-Pay, are non-routine matters; therefore, shares held by a broker in street name cannot be voted on by the broker at his or her discretion for those proposals. If your shares are held at a broker, the Corporation urges you to provide voting instructions to your broker so that your vote may be counted.

How are Dividend Reinvestment Plan shares voted?

Shares owned by you in the Chemung Financial Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) on the record date will be combined with all other shares owned by you directly on that date and presented to you with voting instructions.

How are shares held in the 401K Profit Sharing, Savings and Investment Plan voted?

Shares held by the Corporation employees in the 401K Profit Sharing, Savings and Investment Plan (the “401K Plan”) on the record date will be voted by the employees. Participants will receive a separate voting form from the transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC, via email for this purpose. If a participant does not vote for his or her Corporation shares held in the 401K Plan, the participant’s shares will be voted for in accordance with the “mirror voting” provisions of the 401K Plan. Under the “mirror voting” provisions, such shares will be voted in a pro rata manner calculated to reflect most accurately the instructions received from those account holders who did vote.

What constitutes a quorum?

A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if shareholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares are present at the Annual Meeting in person or represented by proxy. Holders of 2,375,990 shares must be present in person or represented by proxy in order to have a quorum. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of whether a quorum is present. If there is no quorum, the holders of the majority of shares present at the Annual Meeting in person or represented by proxy may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another date.

How many votes are required for approval of Proposal 1?

The first item on the agenda is the election of five directors. The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and eligible to vote on such matter is required for the election of each director. A “plurality” means receiving a higher number of votes for such position than any other candidate, up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the Annual Meeting. Because there are only as many nominees(five) as there are directors to be elected(five) at this year’s meeting, a director nominee is assured of being elected if he or she receives any “For” votes, regardless of how many negative votes (“Withhold Authority”) are cast for that director.

How many votes are required for approval of Proposal 2?

The second item on the agenda is the advisory approval of the executive compensation, Say-On-Pay for NEOs. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting on this proposal is required to approve, by advisory vote, the compensation paid to the NEOs. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast and; therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of this vote. A proxy or ballot marked “Abstain” on Proposal 2 will not have the same effect as a vote “Against” such proposal. A proxy or ballot marked “Against” on Proposal 2 is an actual vote (and counts in the total number of votes cast on the proposal). Therefore, a vote “Against” Proposal 2 makes it more difficult to achieve shareholder advisory approval of Say-On-Pay than a vote to “Abstain.”

How Many votes are required for approval of Proposal 3?

The third item on the agenda is the advisory selection of the frequency of the Say-On-Pay vote. The selection that receives the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and eligible to vote will be the advisory recommendation of the shareholders for the frequency of the Say-On-Pay vote. Abstentions and broker "non-votes" will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast and; therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of this vote.

How many votes are required for approval of Proposal 4?

The fourth item on the agenda is ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, Crowe LLP. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting on this proposal is required for ratification. Brokers will be eligible to vote on Proposal 4. A proxy or ballot marked “Abstain” on Proposal 4 will not have the same effect as a vote “Against” such proposal. A proxy or ballot marked “Against” on Proposal 4 is an actual vote (and counts in the total number of votes cast on the proposal). Therefore, a vote “Against” Proposal 4 makes it more difficult to achieve shareholder ratification than a vote to “Abstain.”

How do I vote?

If you are a shareholder of record as of the close of business on April 8, 2024, you will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You can ensure that your shares are voted properly by submitting your proxy by calling toll free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) (United States & Canada) or 1-718-921-8500 (Internationally), visiting www.voteproxy.com or by completing, signing and dating the proxy card that will be provided to you upon request. Shareholders of record should receive a notice with voting instructions and the ability to request Proxy Materials. In order for your vote to count by proxy, it has to be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 3, 2024. If your shares are held by a broker, bank or other agent, you must follow the voting instructions on the form you receive from your broker, bank or other agent. If you hold shares through a broker or bank or other agent and wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a “legal” proxy from your broker, bank or other agent.

May I revoke my proxy?

A shareholder may revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted by: (1) delivering written notice of revocation bearing a later date than the proxy to the Secretary of the Corporation at One Chemung Canal Plaza, Elmira, New York 14901; (2) submitting a later-dated proxy by mail, telephone or via the internet; or (3) by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself constitute a revocation of a proxy. To revoke your proxy, you must complete and submit a ballot at the Annual Meeting or submit a later-dated proxy. If your shares are registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should follow your broker’s, bank’s or other agent’s instructions regarding the revocation of proxies.

How are proxies being solicited?

Proxies are being solicited electronically, by telephone and by mail. Proxies may also be solicited without additional compensation by directors, officers and other employees personally, by telephone or other means. The Corporation will bear all costs of proxy solicitation. The Corporation may also request nominees, brokerage houses, custodians and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to beneficial owners of the Corporation’s common stock and will reimburse such intermediaries for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials.