The Illinois Soybean Association is pleased to announce that the election for At-Large Directors will be held via absentee ballot. In past years, this election was held in conjunction with the Illinois Soybean Board (ISB) and Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) July board meeting. Due to COVID-19, this election was postponed until the organization’s December board meeting.

With the state of Illinois COVID-19 limitations in place, it is likely that large groups will not be allowed to meet until a vaccine is available. To that extent, it has been decided that the At-Large Director elections will be held via absentee ballot.

Each eligible soybean producer in the state of Illinois is entitled to one vote.  To qualify as an “eligible voter”, the voter must be both a “producer” and a “person.”  A “producer” includes “any person engaged in Illinois in the business of producing and marketing soybeans and who is affected by this program by virtue of having the first right of ownership in any soybeans for which payment is received at the first point of sale.” A “Person” includes not only a natural person, but “any partnership, corporation, society, association, representative or other fiduciary.”

In order to verify voter eligibility for individual voters, the Illinois Soybean Board requires that, prior to the election, any individual seeking to cast a vote on their own behalf complete the Illinois Soybean Board Individual Voter Eligibility Verification form. This form verifies voters are in the business of producing and marketing soybeans within the State of Illinois and have had the first right of ownership of soybeans for which they have received payment at the first point of sale within the preceding twelve (12) months.

In order to verify voter eligibility for a partnership, corporation, society, association, representative or other fiduciary producer (“Entity Producer”), the Illinois Soybean Board requires that, prior to the election, any individual seeking to cast a vote on behalf of an Entity Producer complete the Illinois Soybean Board Entity Producer Voter Eligibility Verification form. This form verifies that the Entity Producer is an eligible voter and that the individual is entitled to cast the vote on behalf of the Entity Producer by virtue of their being a shareholder, member, partner, trustee, officer, or director of the Entity Producer and is duly authorized by the Entity Producer to cast its vote.

Finally, if an individual qualifies as an eligible voter in their individual capacity as well as on behalf of an Entity Producer, they may cast both their individual vote and the Entity Producer’s vote. For example, if an individual has the first right of ownership in any soybeans for which payment is received, that individual is entitled to cast a vote as an individual. If the individual also serves as a trustee for a trust that is engaged in the business of producing and marketing soybeans and has the first right of ownership in any soybeans for which payment is received at the first point of sale (and that are not the same soybeans claimed by the individual), so long as the individual executes the required verification, they may also cast a vote on behalf of the trust.

Please take the following steps to participate in the 2020 At-Large Director election.

  • Step 1: Request affidavits via email (ilsoy@ilsoy.org) or by calling 309-808-3603. Be sure to include how many individual affidavits you need and/or how many entity affidavits you need. The last day to request affidavits is October 30, 2020. Affidavits can be distributed by email or U.S. mail. Affidavits distributed by U.S. mail will include a postage-paid return envelope.
  • Step 3: Return the completed, notarized affidavit to ilsoy@ilsoy.org or mail to Illinois Soybean Association, Attn: Director of Operations, 1605 Commerce Pkwy, Bloomington, IL 61704. If returning by email, the affidavit must be received by November 6, 2020. If returning by U.S. mail, the affidavit must be postmarked by November 6, 2020.
  • Step 4: Once the office has received your completed, notarized form, an absentee ballot will be sent immediately. Included will be information on how to access short video clips where you can “meet the candidates.” Ballots distributed by U.S. mail will include a postage-paid return envelope. If returning by email, the ballot must be received by November 20, 2020. If returning by mail, the absentee ballot must be postmarked by November 20, 2020.

Published On: September 18, 2020Categories: Latest News, Press ReleasesTags:

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