Referenda

Referenda. All swine producers subject to the marketing program shall have the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine the adoption, amendment, or continuation of a marketing program. All referenda shall be by secret ballot. Voting shall be by mailed ballot. No less than 14 calendar days shall be allowed for swine producers subject to the program to cast their ballots. Procedure shall be provided for absentee voting. Reasonable notice of all referenda held under this Act must be given at least once in trade publications and in the public press at least 30 days before the referendum. The ballots shall be returned to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Such ballots shall be returned or delivered to the Department no later than the date for the conclusion of the voting period. The Department shall secure all ballots until they are tallied. The Department shall appoint a 3-person teller committee to tally the vote and shall make the results of the referendum public. The initial referendum to adopt an Illinois Swine Market Development Program and to set the amount of an assessment may be conducted at any time by the Board of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. The Board shall hold informational meetings on the initial marketing program. Any producer who is qualified under any marketing program is entitled to one vote. The referendum area includes the entire State of Illinois. (Source: P.A. 92-158, eff. 7-25-01.)