§ 7805. Referenda

Referendum required

During the 60-day period immediately preceding the proposed effective date of an order issued under section 7803(b)(3) of this title, the Secretary shall conduct a referendum among producers and importers required to pay assessments under the order, as provided in section 7804(h)(1) of this title.

Approval of order needed

The order shall become effective only if the Secretary determines that the order has been approved by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum.

In general

Each producer and importer eligible to vote in a referendum conducted under this section shall be entitled to cast one vote if they satisfy the eligibility requirements as defined in paragraph (2).

Eligibility

For purposes of paragraph (1), producers and importers, as these terms are defined in section 7802 of this title, shall be considered to be eligible to vote if they have been producers or importers with sales of Hass avocados during a period of at least 1 year prior to the referendum.

In general

Referenda conducted pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted in a manner determined by the Secretary.

Advance registration

A producer or importer of Hass avocados who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this chapter shall register with the Secretary prior to the voting period, after receiving notice from the Secretary concerning the referendum under paragraph (4).

Voting

A producer or importer of Hass avocados who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this chapter shall vote in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary. The ballots and other information or reports that reveal or tend to reveal the identity or vote of voters shall be strictly confidential.

Notice

The Secretary shall notify all producers and importers at least 30 days prior to the referendum conducted under this chapter. The notice shall explain the procedure established under this subsection.

at the discretion of the Secretary, may conduct at any time a referendum of producers and importers required to pay assessments under the order, as provided in section 7804(h)(1) of this title, subject to the voting requirements of subsections (b) and (c), to ascertain whether eligible producers and importers favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the order; or

shall conduct a referendum of eligible producers and importers if requested by the Board or by a representative group comprising 30 percent or more of all producers and importers required to pay assessments under the order, as provided in section 7804(h)(1) of this title, subject to the voting requirements of subsections (b) and (c), to ascertain whether producers and importers favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the order.

not later than 180 days after the referendum, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the order; and

suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the order as soon as practicable and in an orderly manner.