One member, one vote
One member, one vote is the cooperative principle that each member has an equal vote; in chapter 308B a patron member has one vote on patron-interest issues, with limited exceptions.
As a principle, the ICA lists democratic member control, with members in primary cooperatives having equal voting rights ("one member, one vote") R10. That is a general cooperative principle, not a quotation of the statute.
Statute#
A patron member is entitled to one vote on an issue voted on by patron members, except that additional votes under the criteria in § 308B.551 may be allowed if the articles or bylaws authorize them § 308B.545, subd. 1 P1. Unless stated in the articles, the bylaws must include a one-vote-per-patron-member statement or describe how voting power is allocated § 308B.241, subd. 2(a) P1. This does not guarantee equal voting power across patron and nonpatron classes. See Member voting rules in Chapter 308B.
Statute sections referenced
- § 308B.241 BYLAWS.
- § 308B.545 MEMBER VOTING RIGHTS.
- § 308B.551 PATRON MEMBER VOTING BASED ON PATRONAGE.
Related
Sources
- P1 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 308B (Cooperative Associations), Office of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota. revisor.mn.gov (primary; accessed October 15, 2026)
- R10 Cooperative identity, values and principles, International Cooperative Alliance. ica.coop (secondary; accessed October 15, 2026)