Updated 6/29/26 at 8:45 am
A few members have called with concerns about whether their ballot will count. That’s a fair question, and we want to walk through exactly how the process works so you can vote with confidence.
- Every ballot is counted and verified by our third-party election vendor, Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS). Founded in 1990, SBS specializes in secure voting and elections for member-based organizations, nonprofits, and businesses.
- When marking your ballot, please fill in the square beside your selections. If you use a check mark or “X” instead, your ballot won’t be discarded. SBS will flag it for manual review by their team, who will validate your vote.
- You can return your ballot in the postage-paid envelope included in your packet or drop it in the locked ballot boxes at our Bee Branch, Clinton, or Marshall offices.
- Ballots will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on June 25th. Our ballot committee will collect ballots from each office location, and every one will be securely entered and verified through the SBS system.
We’re grateful to every member taking part. Your voice shapes this cooperative, and counting it accurately is a responsibility we take seriously. Every valid ballot received will be counted.
Every residential membership has 1 vote—and every vote matters.
If you have a current residential membership with Petit Jean Electric Cooperative, you should receive your Annual Report and ballot in the mail in May 2026. The envelope will look like the one below.
Here’s what you need to know:
Step 1:
Mark your ballot to vote for the board candidates of your choice. In 2026, 2 director positions are up for election. 1 Director in District 1, Position 2, and 1 Director in District 3, Position 1.
Step 2:
Complete the enclosed survey.
Step 3:
Place your completed ballot and completed survey in the small, unmarked envelope provided. Be sure to remove the top portion of your ballot. This ensures your vote remains secret.
Step 4:
Put that small envelope into the larger postage-paid envelope—the 1 with your name and address label—and return it by mail. That outer envelope helps confirm that you’re a voting member. The ballots will be going to a third-party vendor who will receive and process the paper ballots. Ensuring your vote is private and secure.
Bonus:
Returning your ballot automatically enters you into a TV prize drawing—1 winner from District 1, District 3, and 1 systemwide. Winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
Returning both your ballot AND completed survey enters you into additional prize drawings due to generous donations: a Bad Boy Lawnmower from Dino Equipment & Outdoors, an iPad, and/or an Xbox. Winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
Our cooperative model is built on Principle 2: Democratic Member Control—which means the future of the board is in the hands of the members. We encourage everyone to vote and be part of shaping our direction.
Election results will be announced at the Annual Meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026.
2026 Board of Directors Election Results
District 1, Position 2
- Terry Kirkendoll – 1,729
- Mark Malone – 557
- James Reed – 1,304
District 3, Position 1
- Gilbert Lewis – 1,773
- John Bradford – 380
- Cheryl Golden – 1,415
Elected to serve on the Petit Jean Electric Board of Directors:
- Terry Kirkendoll – District 1, Position 2
- Gilbert Lewis – District 3, Position 1
These certified results account for 3,614 ballots cast from 14,656 eligible members, yielding a participation rate of 24.66%.
Prize Drawing Winners
Members who returned their ballots were entered into TV prize drawings from each District and one systemwide drawing conducted by Survey & Ballot Systems.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Ballot Return Prize Drawings
- District 1 TV Winner: Steve Trawick
- District 3 TV Winner: Jeanne Crawford
- Systemwide TV Winner: Edward Miller
Members who returned their ballots and surveys were entered into prize drawings conducted by Survey & Ballot Systems.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Ballot and Survey Prize Drawings
- $200 Bill Credit: Johnny Horton
- Bad Boy Mower (from Dino Equipment & Outdoors): Thomas James Jr.
- iPad: Randy Soell and Jeff Knight
- Xbox: Charles R Smith and Larry Boudrie