7 U.S.C. § 2623 : US Code - Section 2623: Referendum

Search 7 U.S.C. § 2623 : US Code - Section 2623: Referendum

(a) Secretary's duty to conduct; purpose of referendum
The Secretary shall conduct a referendum among producers, who
during a representative period determined by the Secretary have
been engaged in the production of potatoes, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the issuance of a plan is approved or favored
by such producers. When the issuance of a plan would subject
importers to the terms and conditions of a plan, the Secretary also
shall conduct the referendum among importers, who during a
representative period determined by the Secretary have been engaged
in the importation of potatoes, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the issuance of such plan is approved or favored by such
importers.
(b) Required margin of approval
No plan issued under this chapter shall be effective unless the
Secretary determines that the issuance of such plan is approved or
favored by not less than a majority of the producers voting in such
referendum or a majority of the producers and importers when the
issuance of a plan would subject importers to the terms and
conditions of a plan, voting in such referendum.
(c) Amendments
The failure of potato producers and importers to approve an
amendment to any plan issued under this chapter shall not be deemed
to invalidate such plan.
(d) Penalties for disclosure of confidential information, ballots
and reports
The ballots and other information or reports which reveal or tend
to reveal the vote of any producer or his production of potatoes,
or any importer or the volume of potatoes imported by such
importer, shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be
disclosed. Any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture
violating the provisions hereof shall upon conviction be subject to
the penalties provided in section 2619(c) of this title.