Within 180 days after the final approval by the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee of any proposed milk promotion program, the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee shall conduct a referendum to determine whether the affected producers assent to such proposed milk promotion program. The voting procedure will be developed by the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee. A milk promotion program is approved when a majority of eligible producers vote in favor of such milk promotion program.
The referendum area includes the entire State of Illinois. Voting shall be at geographically located polling places or by mailed ballots. Provision shall be made in the milk promotion program for absentee voting on any referendum or election.
Any producer who is qualified under the proposed milk promotion program is entitled to one vote. A dairy cooperative is authorized to vote for a member producer if authorized by such producer. In determining the eligibility of producers, the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee or the Milk Promotion Board may request the Department of Public Health to provide a current listing of the names and addresses of all milk producers registered under the "Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act" and the "Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act". The Department of Public Health is authorized to provide listings when requested by the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee or the Milk Promotion Board. The temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee or the Milk Promotion Board shall pay the costs charged by the Department of Public Health for the listings.
If any proposed milk promotion program is not approved by such referendum, no additional referendum on such milk promotion program may be held for 2 years from the date of the close of such referendum. A succeeding referendum shall be called by the temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee upon request by petition of 500 producers of milk with at least 10 signers of such petition from each of 10 counties. The temporary Milk Promotion Program Committee shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 6.
505 ILCS 95/7