(a)
Within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall establish a list of producers eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that handlers submit the names and mailing addresses of all known producers. The secretary also may require that the information provided include the quantity of asparagus produced by each producer or, in the alternative, may establish procedures for receiving the information at the time of the referendum vote conducted pursuant to Section 78271. 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 producer whose name does not appear upon the appropriate 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 producer. The absence of a producer’s name from the list does not exempt the producer from paying assessments and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
(c)
Proponents and opponents of the commission may contact producers on the lists in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary if all expenses associated with the contacts are paid in advance.