--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7105" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "7105" heading: "Referenda" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7105" units: - "Chapter 99 — Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information" --- # §7105. Referenda - (a) **Initial referendum—** - (1) **In general—** Following the issuance of an [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) under [section 7103 of this title](/usc/7/7103.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) shall conduct a referendum among [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) who, during a representative period as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25), have been engaged in the production, feeding, or importation of [sheep](/usc/7/7102.md?p=26) or [sheep products](/usc/7/7102.md?p=27) for the purpose of ascertaining whether the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) shall go into effect. - (2) **Approval of order—** The [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) shall become effective only if the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) determines that the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) has been approved by not less than a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) voting in the referendum or at least ⅔ of the production represented by [persons](/usc/7/7102.md?p=16) voting in the referendum. - (b) **Additional referenda—** - (1) **In general—** After the initial referendum, on the request of a representative group comprising 10 percent or more of the [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) who, during a representative period as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25), have been engaged in the production, feeding, importation, or processing of [sheep](/usc/7/7102.md?p=26) or [sheep products](/usc/7/7102.md?p=27), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) shall conduct a referendum of [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) to determine whether the [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) favor the termination or suspension of the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15). - (2) **Suspension or termination—** If the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) determines that suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) is favored by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) voting in the referendum or at least ⅔ of the production represented by the [persons](/usc/7/7102.md?p=16) voting in the referendum, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) shall suspend or terminate— - (A) collection of assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) not later than 180 days after the determination; and - (B) the [order](/usc/7/7102.md?p=15) in an orderly manner as soon as practicable after the determination. - (c) **Procedures—** - (1) **Reimbursement—** - (A) **In general—** Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)](#c-1-B), the [Board](/usc/7/7102.md?p=1) shall reimburse the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) for any expenses incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) in connection with the conduct of any referendum under this section. - (B) **Federal employee salaries—** The [Board](/usc/7/7102.md?p=1) shall not be required to reimburse the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) for the salaries of Federal employees under [subparagraph (A)](#c-1-A) if the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) determines that the reimbursement would be overly burdensome and costly. - (2) **Date—** Each referendum under this section shall be conducted on a date established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25), under a procedure by which [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) intending to vote in the referendum shall certify that the [producers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=18), [feeders](/usc/7/7102.md?p=10), and [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) were engaged in the production, feeding, or importation of [sheep](/usc/7/7102.md?p=26) or [sheep products](/usc/7/7102.md?p=27) during the representative period and, on the same day, shall be provided an opportunity to vote in the referendum. - (3) **Place—** Referenda under this section shall be conducted at locations determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25). Absentee mail ballots shall be furnished by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) on request made in [person](/usc/7/7102.md?p=16), by mail, or by telephone. - (4) **Allocation of production—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7102.md?p=25) shall determine a method of allocating, by a pro rata percentage of annual projected or actual assessments from [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13), the volume of production represented by [importers](/usc/7/7102.md?p=13) in referenda conducted pursuant to this section. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–407, § 6, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4223.)