PEC-BAL Referendum Ballot

FORM APPROVED OMB NO. 0581-NEW

United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service OFFICIAL REFERENDUM BALLOT Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order To be counted, completed ballots must be received by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Month xx, 20xx, by xx:xx p.m. NOTE: Only one vote will be counted for each eligible producer and importer. Incomplete ballots will be INVALID and will not be counted in the referendum.	I. CERTIFICATION I am currently a pecan PRODUCER  or IMPORTER  (Check one), during the period Month xx, 20xx to Month xx, 20xx.
	II. VOTE Instructions: Mark one box only. Do you favor continuance of [amendment to] the Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order? YES  NO 
	III. SIGNATURE ALL BALLOTS MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED BELOW IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED. I CERTIFY that I am the person authorized to cast this ballot and that the information contained on this ballot is true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and is made in good faith. If this ballot is being cast on behalf of any group of individuals, partnership, corporation, or other business entity engaged in the producing or importation of processed raspberries, I also CERTIFY that I have the authority to cast this ballot. X ______________________________ _____________ SIGNATURE DATE __________ _____________ COMPANY NAME BUSINESS TELEPHONE NUMBER
	IV. MAILING Return ballot in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.

The making of any false statement or representation on this form, knowing it to be false, is a violation of Title 18, Section 1001 United States Code, which provides for the penalty of a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-NEW. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PEC-ORB

Exp. Date xx/xx/xxxx