Elections

Members can vote one of three ways: (1) through the online Election Portal; (2) by requesting a paper ballot; (3) in–person at the Annual Meeting of the Members at the Soldotna High School on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

All HEA members can cast a vote for a board candidate in their district of residence. If you do not know which district you are located in, check the interactive map on the HEA Election webpage or call Member Services at (800) 478-8551.

No, only members that request a paper ballot will receive a paper ballot. Given that paper ballots are sent to the election vendor in Minnesota, we strongly recommend that members who have not requested a paper ballot by April 28, 2026, vote electronically to ensure the ballot is received by the deadline.

All HEA members with an email on file will be emailed unique election credentials for the online Election Portal on April 3, 2026, with reminder emails sent to all members who do not vote. Members without an email on file (or whose email bounced) were mailed their election credentials in a Special Letter providing the Member with access to the online Election Portal. Please call (866)-909-3549 if you need your credentials replaced or HEA Member Services at (800) 478-8551 for any other assistance.

1) Access the online ballot by typing https://www.directvote.net/HEA into your browser.

2) When prompted, enter your election credentials (Member Number and Election Passcode) listed in your credentials email or mailed letter.

3) Once validated, the election letter will appear on your screen. Click “Go to Ballot”.

4) Follow the instructions for voting as well as accessing candidate biographies.

If you lose your election credentials or need technical support, please call (866)-909-3549 for assistance. For any other questions or concerns, please contact HEA Member Services at (800) 478-8551.

Request a paper mail-in ballot with the request form linked on the HEA Election webpage. Those members who previously opted out of online voting were mailed paper mail-in ballots and must return the ballot in the signed Business Reply Envelope sent with the paper ballot. If you have not requested a paper ballot by April 28, 2026, you run the risk of not returning the mail-in ballot to the election vendor in Minnesota by the deadline of May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.   

The Election Portal closes on May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., until reopening for in-person voting at the Annual Meeting on May 7, 2026. All ballots must be received by the election vendor electronically or by U.S. Mail in Minnesota by May 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. For those reasons, we strongly recommend that members who have not requested a paper ballot by April 28, 2026, use their electronic credentials to cast a ballot through the online Election Portal to ensure the ballot is received by the deadline.  

You may access the online Election Portal in the Homer or Kenai lobbies, Monday to Friday during business hours with the election credentials sent to your email or through U.S. Mail. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting of the Members on May 7, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Soldotna High School.  

All paper, mail-in and electronic ballots must be received by May 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. AKDT. Members can also vote in-person at the Annual Meeting of the Members on May 7, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Members can vote in–person during the Annual Meeting at Soldotna High School on Thursday, May 7, 2026, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Please bring a valid photo ID.

• Email: Members with an email on file will receive their online election credentials by email at the member’s email of record on April 3, 2026. If the email returns or bounces, then that member will be mailed a Special Letter containing the member’s election credentials together with information on how to cast a ballot through the online Election Portal. Click here to see Election Credentials Email Example 

• U.S. Mail Election Credentials Special Letter: Members without an email on file (or members whose email bounced) were mailed a special letter that contained the member’s election credentials together with information on how to cast a ballot through the online Election Portal. Click here to see Special Letter Example 

• U.S. Mail Paper Ballots: Members who requested a paper ballot letter were mailed a paper ballot. Click here to see Paper Ballot Letter Example 

HEA’s 2024 Financial Report can be viewed online on the HEA website. 

HEA previously used a local accounting firm to receive, review, sort, and count paper ballots cast by members in prior elections. Approximately four years ago, the owners of the accounting firm informed HEA that they intended to retire and could no longer serve as the election vendor going forward. Around the same time, the owners of the printing company that historically printed ballots for HEA’s elections also informed HEA that they were closing the printing company to pursue other opportunities. Consequently, HEA lost both its election vendor and the printing company.  

HEA contacted several local accounting firms, but they declined to provide these services for an election consisting primarily of paper ballots because the machines and cyber security investments needed to perform these functions for a single utility did not make economic sense. After researching other cooperatives in Alaska and other states, HEA selected Survey Ballot Systems to serve as the Election Vendor.  

HEA‘s long–term election vendor and the printing company declined to continue providing these services as the owners of both vendors wanted to retire. HEA was unable to find a local vendor, which would have led to delays and increased costs for printing and mailing ballot packets. Survey Ballot Systems provided HEA with the option to provide its members with the option to cast a ballot through its online Election Portal or receive a paper ballot. Survey Ballot Systems had the cybersecurity and encryption to oversee the election. HEA will continue to provide an option for members to cast a paper ballot through the mail at the election of the member.  

The Election Committee previously oversaw the election vendor receipt of paper ballots and vetted signatures on the Business Reply Envelopes. Survey Ballot Systems has invested in machinery that can sort, count, and vet both paper ballots, electronic ballots, and the business reply envelopes, compiling this information in a summary report. A copy of the 2024 Election Summary Results is attached here. As a result, after transitioning to Survey Ballot System, as the new Election Vendor, the Elections Committee no longer performed those duties as those duties were consolidated into the role of the new election vendor, Survey Ballot Systems.

The Elections Clerk oversees and manages the election. Some of those duties include: 

• Vetting candidate packets and certifying candidates to appear on the ballot 

• Creating the ballot and drafting election communications 

• Overseeing the distribution of election credentials 

• Working with the election vendor to distribute ballots and election materials  

• Working with the election vendor to manage the Election Portal 

• Working with the election vendor to certify the election