The Board of Directors election is open now through Aug. 3! 
 
Your vote has power! 
 
As a member of Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, you have a voice in the governance of your cooperative. The Board of Directors is elected by you, the members, to represent your interests and provide oversight and governance. 

The 2026 election is now open! Directors in districts 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are currently up for election. Candidates were nominated during district meetings held this spring. Every member is asked to vote for one candidate in each district on the ballot, regardless of the district in which they live. 
 
Candidate bios were included with ballots mailed to each member and are available on the Direct Vote website so you can review them before you vote. They will also be printed in the 2025 Annual Report, which was published in the July issue of Penn Lines Magazine. 
 
Members can vote three different ways: 

• Vote by mail using the ballot mailed to your home. 

• Vote online using your member number and the election passcode sent to you by email and mail: https://www.directvote.net/NREC/default.aspx 

• Vote using the “Vote Now” button in SmartHub. 

Northwestern REC has contracted with a third-party vendor to facilitate the election. That’s why you may notice an out-of-state address on the return envelope. Ballots can only be cast through the methods listed above. Ballots will not be accepted at the cooperative office or during cooperative events. 

Be sure to cast your vote and make your voice heard!