If you could shape the future of our community in five steps, would you? While I know it might seem like an impossible question, the 2024 general elections are taking place nationwide next month, giving Beltrami Electric Cooperative (BEC) members—like you—the opportunity to make your voice heard on issues that affect our community. This election is our opportunity to elect candidates who support energy policies that promote safe, reliable, affordable energy.  

BEC understands the importance of voting with co-op issues in mind and is working to ensure all our members go the polls as Co-op Voters. To help, we are partnering with Co-ops Vote, a national, non-partisan initiative focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship-building with policymakers.

Co-ops Vote is a program built to give members of the BEC community the resources and information needed to vote with BEC issues in mind. So, how can you be a co-op voter at the polls? Well, it’s as easy as following these five steps.

1. Get Ready: Registering to vote is simple and easy! To help, Co-ops Vote has a website full of voter resources and information. You can check it out at www.vote.coop. Remember, it’s essential to regularly check your registration and verify that your information is correct and up to date.
    
2. Get the Details: Every state’s election process is different, and it’s important to know about upcoming voter registration deadlines, the process for requesting absentee ballots and more, so you don’t miss key dates. We’ve made it easy, and you can find all the information about voting in Minnesota by visiting www.vote.coop/gotv
    
3. Get Informed: Before you head to the polls, it’s important to be educated on the policy issues that help keep our community’s power reliable, affordable and safe. Learn more about these issues by joining Voices for Cooperative Power, a national network of co-op advocates, by visiting www.voicesforcooperativepower.com/issues.
    
4. Get the background: Now that you’re registered and informed, it’s time to learn about your candidates. You can view a list of your current elected officials on the Voices for Cooperative Power website and then click to view their official website for news releases and official policy positions.
    
5. Get others involved! Now that you’ve done your research and are officially ready to head to the polls as a Coop Voter, it’s time to get your family, friends and neighbors involved.

We encourage you to complete these five simple steps and become a #CoopVoter. America’s electric cooperatives, including BEC, understand the importance of political engagement.

Together, we have the power to educate lawmakers, build awareness about our issues and concerns and support legislative issues that are important to our communities. The co-op voice is powerful, and it starts with you!