How Your Union Mail-In Ballot Election Works

Your Vote is Secret and Protected

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal government agency in charge of Union elections, conducts this election to ensure it's fair and confidential. Your vote is secret—no one will know how you voted.

The Mail Ballot Process

Receiving Your Ballot

• The NLRB will mail your ballot kit to your address on file* 

• The mailing will begin December 29.  

• The kit will include your ballot, envelopes, and instructions

• Follow the specific instructions included with your ballot carefully

• If you don't receive your ballot by January 12^th, contact the NLRB immediately**

  
  

*NOTE (If you believe your address on file with the company to be incorrect contact us, we can have our USW Reps double check for you or if you will not be at that address during the election period (January 2026), contact the NLRB agent dealing with our election; Lily Fried – lily.fried@nlrb.gov)

** NOTE If you have not received a ballot by January 12 and are eligible to vote, you will need to contact the NLRB Region 19 Office at: 

NLRB Regional Office 19 - Seattle, WA 915 2nd Ave Ste 2948 Seattle, WA 98174-1006, United States, Tel: (206) 220-6300

or the NLRB Officer dealing with our election Lily Fried – lily.fried@nlrb.gov.  

Voting and Returning Your Ballot

• Mark your ballot as instructed

• Place your ballot in the envelopes exactly as the instructions describe

• You'll need to sign where indicated to verify you're eligible to vote

• Mail your ballot back promptly—it must be received by the deadline, FEBRUARY 9, 2026, not just postmarked.

The Two-Envelope System: How Your Privacy is Protected

Your ballot kit includes the actual ballot and two envelopes that work together to keep your vote anonymous:

The SECRET Ballot will look like this: 

Inner Envelope (Unmarked)

• This envelope has no identifying information on it

• You seal your voted ballot inside this unmarked, anonymous, envelope

• Because it's unmarked, once sealed, there's no way to know whose ballot is inside

  
  

Outer Return Envelope

• This envelope has your name and requires your signature

• You place the sealed inner envelope inside this one

• Your signature proves you're eligible to vote and that you only voted once

  
  

What Happens When Ballots Are Counted

• NLRB agents first verify eligibility using the names on the outer envelopes

• After verification, they remove all the unmarked inner envelopes and set the marked outer ones aside

• The unmarked inner envelopes are mixed together

• Only then are the unmarked inner envelopes opened and the ballots counted

• This separation means your ballot can never be linked back to your name

  
  

Important Reminders

• Only you should mark and mail your ballot

• The company is not allowed to pressure you about your vote

• It's illegal for the company to threaten or coerce you regarding this election

• Contact the NLRB if you have questions or don't receive your ballot

• Keep the NLRB contact information from your ballot instructions