Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 33-49-450, two-thirds of the membership of the board of trustees shall first recommend to the membership that the cooperative be dissolved. The proposition that the cooperative be dissolved must be submitted to the membership of the cooperative for a vote at a special meeting of the membership called only for this purpose and held on Saturday. Locations for the special meeting must be set up in every county in which the cooperative provides service. The notice for the meeting at which a proposal to dissolve the cooperative is considered shall set forth:

(1) a detailed proposition for dissolution;

(2) the plan for sale and distribution of assets;

(3) the plan for the continuance of service; and

(4) the locations of the meeting.

The special meeting must be called to order by the president or his designee at each of the locations set forth in the notice. No quorum is required to conduct the business of the special meeting and the presiding officer shall promptly order the balloting on the proposition. A vote by the membership for voluntary dissolution of the cooperative must be by written or machine ballot only. The ballot must state the proposition to be voted upon by the members and must contain two boxes, one marked FOR DISSOLUTION and the other marked AGAINST DISSOLUTION. The ballot must direct that the member place an "X" in the box indicating his vote on the proposition. Each member is entitled to one vote on the proposition to dissolve the cooperative. Voting on this proposition must be in person only, except that a member who qualifies to vote an absentee ballot under the categories as designated below may vote by absentee ballot. A member may cast an absentee ballot on the proposition of voluntary dissolution of the cooperative if the member:

(1) is serving with the Armed Forces, Merchant Marine of the United States, or is a spouse or dependent residing with that person;

(2) is serving in the Red Cross or with the United Service Organizations, who are attached to and serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, or is a spouse or a dependent residing with that person;

(3) is physically disabled so as to prevent his attendance at the meeting;

(4) has his principal residence outside any county in which the cooperative does business;

(5) is attending sick or physically disabled persons;

(6) is self-employed or unemployed and by virtue of vacation plans will be absent from his county of residence on the scheduled meeting day;

(7) by virtue of vacation plans, will be absent from his county of residence on the scheduled meeting day and the vacation leave having been confirmed by his employer below; or

(8) is prevented from attending the meeting due to his employment and his inability to attend the meeting is confirmed by his employer as provided in this section.

A member seeking the privilege of voting an absentee ballot must apply to the cooperative in writing for an absentee ballot within thirty days of the date for submission of the absentee ballot as provided herein. The absentee ballot must be promptly forwarded to the member by depositing it in the United States mail to the last known address of the member, together with a form to be completed and signed by the member setting forth and certifying as to his qualification for voting an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot must be sealed in a blank envelope and together with the executed certification of qualification form inserted into a second envelope bearing the name and account number of the member. The ballot and certification of qualification form, so ensealed, must be returned to the cooperative by mail or otherwise no later than twelve noon of the day prior to the date of the special meeting of members. A member receiving an absentee ballot is entitled to cast a vote at the special meeting. However, after delivering an absentee ballot to the cooperative, if the member registers at the meeting or requests in writing the withdrawal of his absentee ballot prior to the close of registration on the meeting date, the absentee ballot must be voided and destroyed. At the conclusion of the membership balloting, each absentee ballot meeting the requirements of this section or which has not been revoked by registration or written member request must be removed from the envelope containing the member's identification, mixed with the other unmarked envelopes so as to prevent identification of the person casting the vote and added to the count of votes cast at the meeting. The meeting must begin at seven a.m. and adjourn at seven p.m. of the day set for a special meeting except that any member who has not cast his ballot and is in the process of voting or is waiting to vote must be allowed to vote. The proposed voluntary dissolution is approved upon affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the cooperative. The certificate of qualification for voting an absentee ballot must be in the following form:

Certificate of Qualification for Absentee Ballot

I hereby apply for an absentee ballot to vote on the proposition of the voluntary dissolution of the cooperative at the special meeting to be held on the ___ day of __________, ___.

I certify that:

___ (1) I am serving with the Armed Forces, Merchant Marine of the United States, and am prevented by my work relating to this service from attending the meeting, or I am a spouse or dependent who resides with a person so serving.

___ (2) I am serving with the Red Cross or with the United Service Organizations who are attached to and serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, or I am a spouse or dependent who resides with a person so serving.

___ (3) I am physically disabled and am prevented from attending the meeting.

___ (4) My principal residence is outside any county in which the cooperative does business.

The address of my principal residence is:

_

___ (5) I am attending a sick or physically disabled person.

___ (6) I am self-employed or unemployed and by virtue of vacation plans will be absent from my county of residence on the scheduled meeting day.

___ (7) By virtue of vacation plans, I will be absent from my county of residence on the scheduled meeting day. This vacation leave has been confirmed by my employer below.

_

Employer

__________ (8) I am prevented from attending the meeting due to my employment, and my inability to attend the meeting has been confirmed by my employer below.

_

Employer

My cooperative member account number is __________.

_

Signature

Unless otherwise provided for in its Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, or by this chapter, the board shall, not less than ten days prior to any election, adopt policies and procedures for the conduct of the election.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 12-1058; 1952 Code Section 12-1058; 1942 Code Section 8555-108; 1939 (41) 240; 1989 Act No. 75, Section 3.