Part of being a cooperative means believing in democratic participation and working to keep it healthy and strong. It’s one of the values that makes cooperative businesses different, and also one of the cooperative principles:
Co-op Principle #2: Democratic Member Control. Cooperatives are democratic organizations, controlled by their members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Persons serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.
Every spring we encourage our members to vote in the annual election for the Co-op’s Board of Directors. Our teams also take part in voter registration drives to encourage everyone—members, shoppers, employees, and all community members—to exercise their democratic right by registering to vote.
Cooperation and Democracy
The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) are also asking co-ops across the county to raise awareness and share information. Individuals are encouraged to visit vote.coop, a project of the NRECA, to make sure your voter registration is up to date and register online where feasible.
Remember, local organizations and volunteers in every community will be the driving force behind National Voter Registration Day, celebrating democracy and working to ensure everyone has a voice.
We want your voice to be heard! Visit our customer relations team at our White River Junction store to find Vermont Voter Registration forms. New Hampshire voters should check out this guide and register with their town clerk.
LEARN MORE
For more information on National Voter Registration Day visit: https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org
To register to vote in New Hampshire visit: https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/voters/register-vote
To register to vote in Vermont visit: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/registration/
April Harkness is the Co-op’s ESG Program Manager. Rebecca White is the Co-op’s Public & Government Affairs Associate and also contributed to this story. Contact April or Rebecca at comment@coopfoodstore.com.
