Board Director Election Process
Cooperatives like Boone Power operate under the principle of Democratic Member Control — meaning members ultimately guide the organization. Unlike investor-owned utilities, Boone Power’s board directors are your neighbors and are accountable to you. Our members aren’t just customers — they are owners. One of the most important ways members exercise that ownership is by electing their electric co-op’s board of directors.
Each spring, members elect directors to serve three-year terms. Article IV of our bylaws outlines the process in detail, but here is a quick summary of how it works.
- MEMBER PETITIONS
- Any member residing in the districts up for election may seek election by completing the Director Candidate Questionnaire and collecting signatures from 3% of the members residing in their board district, by downloading this Signature Form. Interested members may call our office at 800-897-7362 to determine the number of signatures needed to make up 3%.
In 2027, directors will be elected from districts 4, 5, and 6. See a district map below. Petitions (Director Candidate Questionnaires and Signature Forms) are due by Jan. 20, 2027.
- NOMINATING COMMITTEE
A committee of fellow members is appointed by the board to identify candidates for any upcoming vacancies. The eligibility of any petitioners and incumbent candidates is verified.
- ELECTIONS:
- Candidates who meet the qualifications are placed on the ballot. Members vote annually for candidates in three of the nine districts. Members can vote for each district up for election each year, regardless of their residence’s district.
- If only one person is nominated for a district, the bylaws allow that single name to appear on the ballot for that district. If more than one candidate is nominated in a district, members choose between them in a contested election.
- Members have several options for voting including online, by mail, or in person. Members are sent information about the election through the Indiana Connection magazine and via email. Members are able to vote via the SmartHub mobile app, or by requesting a paper ballot, either in our office or by completing an online form. The link to request a paper ballot will be posted here in the coming months.
Serving as a director is a significant responsibility; it involves time, training, and a commitment to act in the best interest of all members. Some years, the incumbents are the only members to express their desire to serve (in this case, continue serving) as a board director. When that happens, the election still takes place according to our bylaws.
Even in years when races are uncontested, member participation is vital. By casting a ballot, members:
- Help the cooperative reach the quorum our bylaws require, ensuring the election is valid.
- Affirm the directors’ commitment to serve.
- Demonstrate that members remain actively engaged in cooperative governance.
Whether contested or uncontested, the process ensures that members always have both the right to run and the right to vote.
