05/21/2024
Crow Wing Power Board Member Election: How to Vote
Ballots will be mailed to all Crow Wing Power member addresses soon, and we thought this would be a great time to provide some information on how to vote.
Who Can Vote?
Per co-op by-laws if you obtain your power from the Co-op, you are a co-op member who is entitled to vote for board members.
Crow Wing Power has approximately 40,000 members—but in most years less than ¼ of members bother to vote.
How do I vote?
There are now four ways to vote (see below). You can vote through a mailed in ballot, or you can vote online with a computer or smartphone, or you can vote from a mobile device using a QR code, or you can log in and vote through the Co-op’sSmartHub application.
Eligible voters will be mailed information about candidates, a plain envelope, a postage paid envelope with the address of the company handling the election, a ballot, and instructions for voting electronically if you choose that route.
To vote:
Mail: Open the ballot information sent to you by mail. Two official envelopes are enclosed: a white “Ballot Secrecy Envelope” and a yellow Business Reply Envelope marked “Official Ballot”.
1. Upon completing your ballot, insert the ballot into the white “Ballot Secrecy Envelope” and seal this envelope.
2. Insert the sealed white “Secrecy Envelope” into the yellow “Official Ballot Use Only” return envelope.
3. Tear off and discard the large stub on the back. It has your name and personal information for your verification and use only. NOTE-- the bar coding on the yellow envelope flap will identify you as the official voter.
4. Seal and mail.
Mailed ballots must be received at the post office box designated on the yellow return envelope prior to 10:00 a.m., June 15, 2024. They can also be dropped off before the start of the annual business meeting-- held on Saturday, June 15th at 10 am at ForestView Middle School in Baxter (12149 Knollwood Drive).
Online By 10 a.m. on June 14, 2024. Go to//www.directvote.net/cwp. Enter your individualized information printed on the detachable stub of the enclosed yellow return envelope marked “Official Ballot Use Only” and follow instructions given on the website.
QR Code From a mobile device, scan the QR code printed on the detachable stub of the enclosed yellow return envelope marked for “Official Ballot Use Only” and it will take you to your personal ballot page.
SmartHub Vote in the app or online.
• App: Open your SmartHub app, login and click the “Vote Now” button.
• Online: Login to your SmartHub account and click the “Vote Now” button.
Other information about Board Member elections:
There are 9 board members, each serving three year terms. Board members represent 6 districts or three at-large positions: 1A/1B/1 at-large; 2A/2B/2 at-large, and 3A, 3B, or 3 at-large.
Board member terms are staggered so that each year, 3 board positions are up for election.
This year, District 1A, 2 at-large, and 3B are up for election. Every eligible member is entitled to vote for all three open positions each year, no matter where you live.
Please vote for a candidate in each of the three open positions!
Our Accountability group is promoting 3 candidates in the election:
Please vote for: Fred Hage, Greg Booth, and Ben Bernatsky!
