The Board of Directors shall, at least 10 days before any meeting of the members, appoint an Elections and Credentials Committee consisting of an uneven number of members, not fewer than 5 nor more than 15, who are not closely related to, or members of the same household as, current directors or candidates.
In appointing the Committee, the board shall have regard for equitable representation from the several districts served by the Cooperative.
2/3 of the committee's members constitute a quorum. In the event a quorum of the committee is not present, other members may be appointed at the meeting to fill any vacancies on the Committee.
The Committee shall elect its own chairman and secretary prior to the member meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to establish or approve the manner of conducting member registration and any ballot voting, to count ballots, to announce winners, to pass upon all questions which may arise with respect to the registration of members, in person, or validity of mailed ballots, ballots cast in any election or in any other ballot vote taken, to rule upon the effect of any ballots irregularly or indecisively marked, and to pass upon any protest or objection filed with respect to any election or to conduct affecting the results of any election.
In the event a protest or objection is filed concerning any election, such protest or objection must be filed during the meeting or within 3 business days following the adjournment of the meeting in which the election is conducted.
The Committee shall thereupon be reconvened upon notice from its chairman, not less than 7 days after such protest or objection is filed. The Committee shall hear such evidence as is presented by the protestor(s) or objector(s) who may be heard in person, by counsel, or both; and the Committee, by a vote of a majority of those present and voting, shall within a reasonable time but not later than 30 days after such hearing, render its decision, which may be either to affirm or change the results of the election or to set aside such election.
The Committee's decision, as reflected by a majority of the quorum present and voting on all such matters, shall be final.