Board Elections
One Member. One Vote.
In a cooperative, members choose their leaders. Every BEK member has one vote, and every vote counts the same.
How the Election Year Works
Directors serve three-year terms. Terms are staggered, so only some districts vote each year. Members vote for only the director candidates in their own district.
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January (at least 120 days before the meeting):
The Board appoints the Nominating Committee, and BEK announces which districts have elections that year.
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February:
Each Nominating Committee meets to nominate candidates. Members interested in serving should contact their district's committee representative before the meeting.
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March (at least 75 days before the meeting):
The Nominating Committee's nominees are posted at BEK's main office in Steele and announced in the Beacon.
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April (at least 60 days before the meeting):
Deadline for nominations by petition.
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May (at least 30 days before the meeting):
Deadline to request a mail ballot in writing.
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At least 10 days before the meeting:
BEK mails members the list of candidates in each district.
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June:
Members vote electronically, by mail, or in person at the Annual Meeting. Results are announced at the meeting.
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After the meeting:
The Board reorganizes and elects its officers: President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.
How to Become a Candidate
There are two ways to be nominated for director:
- By the Nominating Committee. A committee of members reviews and nominates candidates for each open seat.
- By petition. Members may nominate a candidate by petition, as described in the cooperative's bylaws. A petition must be signed by at least 15 members from the district and filed at least 60 days before the Annual Meeting.
Interested in serving? Contact your district's Nominating Committee representative before the committee meets in February.
Serve on a Nominating Committee
Nominating Committee members help choose the future leaders of BEK. The Board appoints the committee at least 120 days before the Annual Meeting, with members from each district holding an election; directors can't serve on it. To serve, you must:
- Be an active member in good standing
- Live in the district
- Have no conflict of interest with a competing communications business
Interested? Contact us at 701.475.2361.
Who Can Run for Director
To serve as a director, you must:
- Be a BEK member and live in the district you would represent
- Not be employed by, or financially interested in, a competing business or a business that sells communication services or supplies, or builds or maintains communication facilities (except a nonprofit cooperative that furthers rural telephony, or a business BEK has an ownership interest in)
- Not be the parent, spouse, sibling, or child of a current BEK director or employee
- Not have been a BEK employee in the past two years
How to Vote
Members in districts with an election can vote in three ways:
Online
Before the Annual Meeting. If you change your mind, you can still vote in person at the meeting.
By Mail
Request a mail ballot in writing at least 30 days before the Annual Meeting. Return it by the date printed on the ballot. If you change your mind, you can still vote in person at the meeting.
In Person
At the Annual Meeting. June 10, 2027
Votes are by secret ballot, and the candidate with the most votes in each district wins. If only one candidate is running, the election can be decided by voice vote. In the rare case of a tie, the winner is decided by a coin flip.
Voting for an Organization
If you're voting as the representative of a church, school district, cooperative or other organization, complete the Appointment of Voting Representative form. Drop it off at any BEK office before the Annual Meeting or bring it to the registration table at the Annual Meeting.
Learn More
The full election rules are in the cooperative's bylaws. Results are announced each year at the Annual Meeting.