(a)
Within 15 days of the effective date of this section, the secretary shall establish a list of handlers eligible to vote on implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that producers, handlers, manufacturers, county agricultural commissioners, and others submit the names and mailing addresses of all known handlers. The secretary may also require that the information provided include the quantity of dates handled by handlers or, in the alternative, may establish procedures for receiving the information at the time of the vote specified in Section 77812. The request for the information shall be in writing, and the requested information shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the request.
(b)
Any handler whose name does not appear on the list may have his or her name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying himself or herself as a handler. The absence of a handler’s name from the list does not exempt the handler from paying assessments and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
(c)
Proponents and opponents of the commission may contact handlers on the lists in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary if all expenses associated with those contacts are paid in advance.