How to Run

Annual Meeting: Saturday, July 10, 2027

Credentials and Election Committee Meeting Date: TBD

Nominations by petition must be picked up and filed not more than one hundred fifty (150) days nor less than ninety (90) days before the date of a meeting of the members at which directors are to be elected.

Petitions: 

• May be picked up in person, sent to the member by email, or mailed to the member.
• Petitions containing original signatures must be filed in person at the headquarters office in Mt. Vernon, IL.  Petitions may not be placed in the drop box.
• Attached affidavit must be signed, notarized and submitted with the petition.  (Cooperative personnel will notarize the affidavit upon request)
• Cooperative shall review signatures on the petitions within 10 business days of receipt.
• Nominees names from the same county shall appear on the ballot in the order that the petitions with 25 valid signatures are received.
• Slate of candidates shall appear in the Annual Meeting notice to the membership. 

Board candidates can be nominated by petition signed by at least 25 members, and signatures may come from the entire Cooperative membership.  A joint membership consists of only one member - meaning if both the member and the joint member sign the petition, it counts as one signature.   Petitions can be picked up in February each year and filed in person along with an affidavit stating that the person filing the petition meets the qualifications to become or remain a board member. Petitions must be filed in person at our Mt. Vernon office in April by the date specified in our Hi-Lites Newsletter each year.   

Petitions may be picked up in person, sent to a member by e-mail, or mailed to a member,  but must be filed in person.  If you would like to receive an official petition along with the affidavit, please contact the cooperative.   

  Qualifications to become or remain a board member:

1. Be an individual with the capacity to enter legally binding contracts,
2. Be a member of the Cooperative in good standing, purchasing electric energy from the Cooperative,
3. Be a bona fide resident of the district in which he (she) represents, receiving service therefrom at their primary residential abode,
4. Not be employed by or hold a position or own an interest that could provide a reasonable opportunity for advancing a pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, that is not common among members in a competing enterprise of business, a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in generating electric energy, or selling electric energy, electric appliances, fixtures, or supplies to the members of the Cooperative,
5. While a board member, and during the three years immediately before becoming a board member, not be an employee of the Cooperative, an employee of a subsidiary of the Cooperative, or an employee of an entity in which the Cooperative is a member,
6. Not be an immediate family member of an employee of the Cooperative or another board member. Immediate family member shall be defined as spouse, parent and grandparent, children and grandchildren, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, including adopted, half, and step members.
7. While a board member and during the five years immediately before becoming a board member, not be convicted of or plead guilty to a felony,
8. While a board member and during the five years immediately before becoming a board member, not personally be a claimant or be a majority owner of an entity which is a claimant in a mediation, arbitration, lawsuit, or other legal action against the Cooperative or be a party defendant in action brought by the Cooperative.
9. When a membership is held jointly by a husband and wife either one, but not both, may be elected as a board member, provided, however, that neither one shall be eligible to become or remain a board member or to hold a position of trust in the Cooperative unless both shall meet the qualifications hereinabove set forth.