§7105 Referenda

Summary

After the Secretary issues an order under section 7103, the Secretary must hold a vote of producers, feeders, and importers who were active in producing, feeding, or importing sheep or sheep products during a representative period the Secretary picks. The order only starts if a majority of those voting approve it or if the yes votes represent at least 2/3 of the production shown by the voters. Later, if a representative group equal to 10 percent or more of those involved asks, the Secretary must hold a vote on suspending or ending the order. If a majority of voters or at least 2/3 of the production represented vote to suspend or end it, the Secretary must stop collecting assessments within 180 days and end the order as soon as reasonably possible. The Board must pay the Secretary’s referendum costs unless covering federal employee salaries would be too burdensome. The Secretary sets the date and places for the vote, requires voters to confirm they were active during the representative period and vote the same day, provides absentee mail ballots on request, and decides how to count importers’ share using a pro rata share of annual projected or actual assessments.