(a) To be exempt under § 202(g) of this title, an electric cooperative shall conduct an election of all its members as follows: (1) An election under this section may be called by the cooperative's board of directors or shall be called not less than 100 days after receipt by the board of a valid petition signed by not less than 1,000 members of the cooperative. (2) The proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission shall be voted upon by the cooperative's members and presented to a meeting of the members. The board of directors of the cooperative shall provide notice of the election and such meeting to the members of the cooperative. Such notice shall set forth the proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission and the time, date and place of the meeting. Notice shall be given in writing to the members and to the Commission by mail or by hand delivery not less than 40 days nor more than 90 days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall also include directions for voting on the proposal, a form of written ballot, and the time, date and place of the forums required by paragraph (a) (3) of this section. (3) With the call for an election under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the board of directors of the cooperative shall schedule, and shall thereafter convene, at least 2 open forum sessions to allow members of the cooperative to discuss or make inquiries concerning the proposal and the election. Such forums shall be held on separate dates at differing locations within the cooperative's service territory at times convenient for members to attend. Such forums shall be held no sooner than 10 days after delivery of the notice described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section and no later than 20 days prior to the date of the meeting for presenting the proposition. The time, date and location of each such forum shall be included in the notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section. At such forum, a member of the cooperative shall have the opportunity to make inquiries about the proposition and shall have a reasonable, equal opportunity to present the member's views concerning the proposition, including a view in opposition to the proposition. (4) If the cooperative mails information to its members regarding the proposition to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission, other than the information required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the cooperative shall also include in the same mailing any materials provided in opposition to the proposition which are submitted by a petition signed by not less than 100 members of the cooperative. The cooperative shall pay the incremental cost of mailing such materials up to an amount equal to the cost of mailing the cooperative's information regarding the proposition. Any cost in excess of that amount shall be paid pro rata by the petitioners submitting materials in opposition, which payment shall be secured by an advance deposit reasonably estimated to cover such excess costs. (5) An independent auditor selected by the board of directors voting shall control and supervise the procedures for voting on the proposition. Each member of the cooperative shall be entitled to 1 vote on the proposition, regardless of the manner utilized to cast such vote. A member may vote by use of a written ballot prescribed for the election. Such form of written ballot shall be included with the notice required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Such written ballot shall be cast if received by the time of the close of the voting at the meeting described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. In addition, a member may vote at the meeting required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section by means of such written ballot or by use of a voting machine. After the close of the voting, the independent auditor shall tally the votes validly cast both by written ballot and by use of a voting machine. The cooperative, by its charter or bylaws, may also authorize members to cast ballots by means of an electronic format and electronic transmission. The procedures adopted for the use and transmittal of such electronic ballots shall ensure that each electronic ballot was sent by a member entitled to vote. An electronic ballot shall be cast if received by the close of voting at the meeting described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. (6) An election under this section shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of those members voting, in an election at which at least 15 percent of the cooperative's members cast votes, to carry the proposition. (7) The independent auditor shall certify to the Commission, in writing, the results of any such election within 5 business days after the date of such election. Subject to § 224 of this title, the action voted by the members shall become effective at the expiration of 15 days from the date the election certificate is filed with the Commission. (b) In the event the members of the cooperative have voted, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to exempt the cooperative from regulation by the Commission, any such cooperative may vote no more than once every 12 months to return said cooperative under the regulation of the Commission. Such proposition may be submitted to the members of the cooperative by the cooperative's board of directors, or shall be submitted to the members of the cooperative if at least 1,000 of the members of the cooperative sign a petition requesting such an election. Such proposition shall be submitted to the members of the cooperative and voted upon in the same manner as provided for in subsection (a) of this section.
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