The 2025 Homer Electric Association Board of Directors election is going on until April 30, but if you’ve been eagerly waiting for HEA to mail your ballot, stop waiting — no paper ballot is coming in the mail. Instead of mailing physical ballots to members this year, HEA is emailing links to an online voting platform.
Many of these ballot emails have been getting lost in spam folders or otherwise going unnoticed. Here’s how to make sure your voice is heard in the important but overlooked election for leadership of HEA.
There are three options for voting, but at this point in the election, only two are guaranteed to get your vote counted this year. A paper ballot may not be counted in time, and we don’t recommend requesting one.
These are the three voting options:
1. Vote online
Search your inbox for the email address where you receive your HEA billing information, specifically a March 28 email from the “HEA election coordinator.” The subject should be “Vote Now for a Homer Electric Board Member to Represent You.” It may have gone to your spam folder!
Click the “personalized link” to vote.
You can also cast an online vote here, but you’ll need the passcode from the email sent by HEA. You’ll need your member number as well, which will be on the top left of your electric bill — it’s the same as the account number.
If you can’t find the email with your passcode, request a new one at the link above by clicking “Forgot your Election Passcode?” Or call for technical assistance: (866) 909 -3549.
2. Vote in person at HEA’s May 1 Annual Meeting
Before HEA announces the election results at its annual meeting, members will have one final chance to cast ballots in person. The meeting is May 1, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Kenai Peninsula High School, but ballots can only be cast from 4:30 to 5 pm! See this page for more information.
The annual meeting also includes free food, drawings for free electricity, and the opportunity to discuss co-op issues with HEA staff. The meeting itself will include member comments on any subject — including what you think about the co-op’s communication on voting methods.
3. Request a paper ballot (too late)
At this stage of the election, a paper ballot will not have time to be sent from HEA to your mailbox, then to HEA’s election contractor in the Lower 48, in time to be counted. HEA recommends that if you have not requested a mail-in ballot by April 19, they strongly recommend voting online or in person.
HEA elections typically have a turnout of about 15%, and with ballot confusion, this year’s turnout may be even lower. But HEA’s decisions affect us all – don’t let your voice go unheard in this important election.
Below, in their own words, are the HEA candidates in each district that Inletkeeper is proudly endorsing and campaigning for.
Learn more about Patrick at: www.patrickforhea.com
Learn more about Mitch at: www.mitchforhea.com/
Learn more about Erin at: www.erinforhea.com/
