(1) In conducting any referendum under this act, the state ADA and extension service shall consider the approval or disapproval by any cooperative association engaged in a bona fide manner in marketing milk or the dairy products as the approval or disapproval of the producers who are members of or under contract with such cooperative association of producers.

(2) In order to be eligible to vote in a referendum, a cooperative association must:

(a) Certify to the state ADA and extension service in conjunction with casting its ballot, that the association is organized under the provisions of the “Capper-Volstead Act” and that it is engaged in a bona fide manner in marketing its members’ milk or dairy products;

(b) Certify to the state ADA and extension service in conjunction with casting its ballot, the number of bulk tank units on whose behalf the cooperative association is casting a ballot, that such bulk tank units are members of or under contract with the cooperative association and that the association was engaged during the representative period in marketing the milk of each of the bulk tank units for whom the cooperative association claims the right to vote;

(c) Furnish to the state ADA and extension service in conjunction with casting its ballot, a copy of the resolution authorizing the casting of the ballot;

(d) Certify to the state ADA and extension service in conjunction with casting its ballot, that the cooperative association has complied with the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; and

(e) Agree to make available to the state ADA and extension service necessary records and information pertaining to the representative period to validate the eligibility of the cooperative association to vote and to verify the number and identity of the producers on whose behalf the cooperative association claims the right to vote.

(3) Not later then thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the referendum, each cooperative association shall notify the state ADA and extension service as to whether or not the association intends to vote on behalf of its bulk tank units.