The democratic process is the engine that drives everything cooperatives do, and it all starts with your participation in electing your local trustees and attending your cooperative’s annual meeting. We call that activity “grassroots” activism because you are advocating for change at the local and state level, at the “root” of the organization.
Victory Electric works tirelessly each day to advocate on behalf of our membership. This advocacy goes further than lobbying elected officials at the state and federal levels. Victory Electric helps to provide programs encouraging education and engagement for our members, two key pieces of effective advocacy.
Grassroots activism is also about building relationships. Relationships with legislators and their staff are instrumental when dealing with the legislative process. However, having a good relationship members like you in our community is critical to our overall success. Electric cooperative activists–trustees, CEOs, managers, and employees–take an active role in the political process to protect both the cooperative and our members from harmful legislation and regulations, as well as to fight for the interests and promote the value of rural America.
The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE®) is the federal Political Action Committee (PAC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Founded in 1966 by the approximately 1,000 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives of NRECA, ACRE supports candidates for the U.S. House and Senate-those in office now and running for office-who will speak for and protect the interests of electric cooperatives and their consumer-owners. The goal of ACRE® is to maximize your voice as you hold elected officials accountable and promote the importance of electric cooperatives across the nation.
Co-ops Vote Campaign 
Rural America is often overlooked in Washington, D.C. Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project of America's Electric Cooperatives designed to inform its members on the key issues facing electric co-ops and encourage them to vote and support their cooperatives and the communities they serve when they go to the polls. We cannot allow our voices to go unrepresented in the elections! The Co-ops Vote campaign brings the issues that matter most to rural America to the ballot box. We do not endorse or recommend any candidates for election.