Exhibit 17(a)

KEEP THIS POR TION FOR YOUR RECORDS DE T ACH AND RETURN THIS POR TION ON L Y TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: Signatu r e [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date Signatu r e [Joint Owners] Date GABELLI FUNDS ONE CORPOR ATE CENTER RYE, NY 10580 - 1334 Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) he r eon . When signing as atto r ne y , executo r , administrato r , or other fiduciar y , please give full title as such . Joint owners should each sign personall y . All holders must sign . If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized o ffice r . V77376 - TBD Fo r Agains t Abstain ! ! ! Th e Boa r d o f Di r ector s r ecommend s yo u vot e FO R th e followin g p r oposal: 1. Proposal to approve the contribution of a portion of Dividend T rust ’ s assets (which is anticipated to consist largely or exclusively of cash and short - termed fixed income instruments) having a value of approximately $100 million (approximately 4% of Dividend T rust ’ s net assets attributable to Dividend T rust Common Shares as of December 31, 2025), to a newly - organized, diversified, closed - end management investment compan y , Preferred T rust, and the distribution of Preferred T rust Common Shares as a dividend to common shareholders of Dividend T rust. 2. T o transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. To vote by Internet 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. 2) Go to website www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above 3) Follow the instructions provided on the website. To vote by Telephone 1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. 2) Call 1 - 800 - 690 - 6903 3) Follow the instructions. To vote by Mail 1) Read the Proxy Statement. 2) Chec k th e appropriat e bo x o n th e prox y car d below. 3) Sign and date the proxy card. 4) Return the proxy card in the envelope provided. SCAN T O VIE W M A TERIAL S & VO TE

Important Notice Rega r ding the A vailability of Pr oxy Materials for the Special Meeting: The P r oxy Statement and Annual Report a r e available at ww w .p r oxyvote.com. V77377 - TBD THE GABELLI DIVIDEND & INCOME TRUST THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES I invite you to the Special Meeting of Sha r eholders (the “Meeting”) of The Gabelli Dividend & Income T rust (“Dividend T rust”) to be held on [TBD], 2025 . At the Meeting, sha r eholders will be asked to app rove a p r oposal to contribute a portion of Dividend T rust ’ s assets to a newly - organized, diversified, closed - end management investment compan y , The Gabelli P r efer r ed Securities T rust (“P r efer r ed T rust”), and to distribute common sha r es of P r efer r ed T rust as a dividend to common sha r eholders of Dividend T rust (the “ T ransaction”) . The enclosed P r oxy Statement/P r ospectus describes the p r oposal in detail . PLEASE SIGN AND D A TE ON THE REVERSE SIDE