This is what I had thought as well, as did some se

This is what I had thought as well, as did some sec lending contacts I spoke with, but that WSJ article implies that there's a way that some funds can setup arrangements with a broker to simply borrow the shares without shorting them yet. There is indeed a fee for doing this, but sounds like some have done it.

I don't think this arrangement would be feasible or available to the average retail investor, it would likely need to be some larger fund or entity with a strong standing relationship with their broker imo.

Generally, you are correct, someone who shorts a stock borrows & sells them immediately so they can't vote them.