Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§7809 Confidentiality
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 105— - HASS AVOCADO PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION › § 7809
Summary
Keeps referendum voter names and votes secret. Knowingly revealing them or breaching a confidentiality order faces a $1,000–$10,000 fine, up to 1 year jail; USDA/Board staff removed; data may go to federal agencies only to carry out or investigate the law and cannot be withheld from Congress.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §7809
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)No information regarding names of voters or how a person voted in a referendum conducted under this chapter shall be made public.
(b)Any person who knowingly violates subsection (a) or the confidentiality terms of an order, as described in section 7804(m)(2) of this title, shall be subject to a fine of not less that $1,000 nor more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. If the person is an officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture or the Board, the person shall be removed from office.
(c)No information obtained under this chapter may be made available to any agency or officer of the Federal Government for any purpose other than the implementation of this chapter or an investigatory or enforcement action necessary for the implementation of this chapter.
(d)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the withholding of information from Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 7809
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73