Referendum ballots on whether to renew the Pierce’s disease/glassy-winged sharpshooter assessment are in the mail to California wine grape growers.

If the grower paid the 2014 assessment, you should receive yours shortly. Once the ballot(s) are received, it is important to vote and return them quickly.

Some growers will get more than one ballot. This is not a mistake.

If you have office staff who receives your mail, alert them not to throw away any extra ballots and to get them to you immediately so you can vote and return them.

If 40 percent of eligible wine grape growers have not voted within 30 days, the vote may be extended 30 days. f the vote is extended, it becomes more important that growers vote and return the ballots immediately.

In order to be tallied, the ballots must be postmarked or otherwise received by May 11, 2015.

The voting period will be extended if the minimum 40 percent participation is not reached.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture will monitor participation levels around April 27 and could make a determination on whether to extend the voting period.

Referendum results are expected by mid-June.

Click here for a fact sheet on the PD/GWSS referendum voting process.