The 2016 FSA County Committee Election is underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 3 of DeKalb County on November 7th.
A change to this year’s election schedule has been made because the 2016 County Committee Election Ballots were not mailed to inactive customers, or customers who indicated they do not wish to receive mail. However, it has now been determined that ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters; regardless of their inactive or “do not mail” status.
As a result, December 13, 2016 will be the last day to vote.
Donny Green, County Executive Director, says that in LAA # 3 (DeKalb Co.), R.V. Billings, Jr. has been certified as an eligible candidate and his name will appear on the ballot. R.V. operates a beef cattle farm in the Johnson’s Chapel Community, served as the former County Executive Director of the DeKalb County ASCS/FSA, serves on the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and has served in his current position on the county committee since 2014.
Write-in candidates can be accepted on ballots. However, the write-in candidate must meet eligibility criteria and attest to his or her willingness to serve, if elected, by signing a nominating petition. Agricultural producers were encouraged to submit candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.
The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. All eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, are encouraged to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote.
Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 3 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center. December 13, 2016 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 13, 2016. The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee will meet on December 20, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. to canvass and tabulate the ballots. This meeting is open to the public. The newly elected committee member and alternates take office January 1st, 2017.
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