More than 1,000 outstanding ballots must returned by May 11 to validate the vote on continuing the Pierce’s Disease-Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD-GWSS) Referendum.

The PD/GWSS board says about 25 percent of the 7,000 ballots sent to growers have been returned.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) must receive at least 40 percent of all ballots to count the votes for extending the program until 2021.

The CDFA mailed the ballots April 10 to every grower (individuals and companies) who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in 2014.

Many growers may have received more than one ballot and they are not duplicates, the board says.

Every ballot should be marked and returned by May 11.

Any grower who did not receive a ballot should call (916) 900-5018.