# 7 C.F.R. § 1205.205 (2026): Canvass of ballots

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_205

## Section

- **Citation:** 7 C.F.R. § 1205.205 (2026)
- **Heading:** Canvass of ballots
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 7 CFR: Agriculture / Chapter XI: AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (MARKETING AGREEMENTS AND ORDERS › MISCELLANEOUS COMMODITIES), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE / Part 1205: COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION / Subpart ECFR67e6ad5eba61a60: Subpart—Procedures for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection With Cotton Research and Promotion Order / § 1205.205: § 1205.205   Canvass of ballots.

## Text

(a)
Canvassing procedure.
Canvassing of returned ballots shall take place as soon as possible after the opening of the FSA offices on the fifth day following the close of the referendum period. Such canvassing shall be in the presence of at least one member of the FSA county office for producer ballots or an FSA representative for importer ballots and shall be open to the public. The canvassing and ballots shall be handled in such a manner so that no member of the public may see how any person voted in the referendum. The county office or FSA representative shall supervise the opening of the sealed ballot box, the opening of the envelopes containing the ballots and a determination as to:
(1) The number of eligible voters favoring the Order and where necessary, the amount of cotton represented by them,
(2) The number of eligible voters disapproving the Order and, where necessary, the amount of cotton represented by them.
(3) The number of ballots cast by voters found to be ineligible to vote in the referendum, and
(4) The number of spoiled ballots. The ballots determined to be spoiled or cast by ineligible voters shall not be considered as approving or disapproving the Order, and the persons who cast such ballots shall not be regarded as participating in the referendum.
(b)
Spoiled ballots.
A ballot shall be considered as a spoiled ballot if:
(1) It is mutilated or marked in such a way that it is not possible to determine with certainty how the ballot was intended to be counted, or
(2) It does not contain the signature of the voter, or the voter's properly witnessed mark.
(c)
Challenge of ballots.
A producer ballot may be challenged by the member of the FSA county office and the importer ballot may be challenged by the representative of FSA. Before a challenged ballot is either counted or declared invalid, a determination shall be made by the FSA county office or representative of FSA as to the eligibility of the voter to vote in the referendum.

## Nearby sections

- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.200 (2026) § 1205.200   General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_200.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.201 (2026) § 1205.201   Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_201.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.202 (2026) § 1205.202   Agencies through which a referendum shall be conducted.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_202.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.203 (2026) § 1205.203   Voting eligibility.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_203.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.204 (2026) § 1205.204   Voting.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_204.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.205 (2026) § 1205.205   Canvass of ballots.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_205.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.206 (2026) § 1205.206   Reporting results of referendum.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_206.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.207 (2026) § 1205.207   Challenge of correctness of county summary of ballots.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_207.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.208 (2026) § 1205.208   Disposition of ballots and records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_208.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.209 (2026) § 1205.209   Confidential information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_209.md)
- [7 C.F.R. § 1205.210 (2026) § 1205.210   Additional instructions and forms.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_210.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T7_P1205_S1205_205. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.