§4807 Selection of Delegate Body

Summary

Within 30 days after the order starts, the Secretary must ask each State to name candidate producers for the first Delegate Body. State associations can nominate resident producers. More candidates can be added by a written petition signed by 100 producers or 5% of the pork producers in that State, whichever is less. The Secretary will set and announce how and when to file petitions. After getting nominations and by 45 days after the order, the Secretary must call elections in each State. Only producers who live in the State can vote. Election notice must be published at least 1 week before in general newspapers and pork or ag trade publications and may be given in other reasonable ways. Notices must say when and where to vote. Each State will nominate the number of producer members required by law, and the top vote-getters are nominated. After the first election, the Board will run future nominations and elections with the Secretary’s help and using the same rules. The Board sets the election dates. To vote later, a person must be a resident producer, have paid all required assessments, and not have asked for an assessment refund. Before any producer’s term ends, the Board will appoint a nominating committee of producers from that State to pick candidates, and extra candidates may again be added by petition.