--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7805" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "7805" heading: "Referenda" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7805" units: - "Chapter 105 — Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information" --- # §7805. Referenda - (a) **Requirements for initial referendum—** - (1) **Referendum required—** During the 60-day period immediately preceding the proposed effective date of an [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) issued under [section 7803(b)(3) of this title](/usc/7/7803.md?p=b-3), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) shall conduct a referendum among [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10), as provided in [section 7804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/7804.md?p=h-1). - (2) **Approval of order needed—** The [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) shall become effective only if the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) determines that the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) has been approved by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum. - (b) **Votes permitted—** - (1) **In general—** Each [producer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) 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)](#b-2). - (2) **Eligibility—** For purposes of [paragraph (1)](#b-1), [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8), as these terms are defined in [section 7802 of this title](/usc/7/7802.md), shall be considered to be eligible to vote if they have been [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) or [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) with sales of [Hass avocados](/usc/7/7802.md?p=6-A) during a period of at least 1 year prior to the referendum. - (c) **Manner of conducting referenda—** - (1) **In general—** Referenda conducted pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted in a manner determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15). - (2) **Advance registration—** A [producer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) or [importer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) of [Hass avocados](/usc/7/7802.md?p=6-A) who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this chapter shall register with the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) prior to the voting period, after receiving notice from the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) concerning the referendum under [paragraph (4)](#c-4). - (3) **Voting—** A [producer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) or [importer](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) of [Hass avocados](/usc/7/7802.md?p=6-A) who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this chapter shall vote in accordance with procedures established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15). The ballots and other information or reports that reveal or tend to reveal the identity or vote of voters shall be strictly confidential. - (4) **Notice—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) shall notify all [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) at least 30 days prior to the referendum conducted under this chapter. The notice shall explain the procedure established under this subsection. - (d) **Subsequent referenda—** If an [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) is approved in a referendum conducted under [subsection (a)](#a), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of the approval, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15)— - (1) at the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15), may conduct at any time a referendum of [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10), as provided in [section 7804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/7804.md?p=h-1), subject to the voting requirements of subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c), to ascertain whether eligible [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10); or - (2) shall conduct a referendum of eligible [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) if requested by the [Board](/usc/7/7802.md?p=1) or by a representative group comprising 30 percent or more of all [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10), as provided in [section 7804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/7804.md?p=h-1), subject to the voting requirements of subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c), to ascertain whether [producers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=12) and [importers](/usc/7/7802.md?p=8) favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10). - (e) **Suspension or termination—** If, as a result of a referendum conducted under [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) determines that suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) is favored by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7802.md?p=15) shall— - (1) not later than 180 days after the referendum, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10); and - (2) suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the [order](/usc/7/7802.md?p=10) as soon as practicable and in an orderly manner. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 106–387, § 1(a) [title XII, § 1206], Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1549, 1549A–91.)