(a) Requirements for initial referendum(1) Referendum requiredDuring 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.
(2) Approval of order neededThe 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.
(b) Votes permitted(1) In generalEach 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).
(2) EligibilityFor 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.
(c) Manner of conducting referenda(1) In generalReferenda conducted pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted in a manner determined by the Secretary.
(2) Advance registrationA 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).
(3) VotingA 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.
(4) NoticeThe 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.
(d) Subsequent referendaIf an order is approved in a referendum conducted under subsection (a), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of the approval, the Secretary—(1) 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
(2) 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.
(e) Suspension or terminationIf, as a result of a referendum conducted under subsection (d), the Secretary determines that suspension or termination of the order is favored by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum, the Secretary shall—(1) not later than 180 days after the referendum, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the order; and
(2) suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the order as soon as practicable and in an orderly manner.