Idaho Commission for Libraries

With the passage of election reform legislation, library districts (and cities, etc) will see a difference in how elections are handled. The legislation, HB 372, is 98 pages long, but fortunately only a handful of pages pertain to libraries.

Library districts will hold an election as usual in May 2010, but after January 2011, counties will conduct elections. Here are some highlights:

• There will be only 2 elections a year - in May and November. (The May election date will change to the third Tuesday in May rather than the fourth.)
• Counties will designate polling places and will handle notification etc. (Here's an excerpt from what the law will say in 34-1401: "...The county clerk shall conduct the elections for political subdivisions and shall perform all necessary duties of the election official of a political subdivision including, but not limited to, notice of the filing deadline, notice of the election, and preparation of the election calendar.")
• Petitions will still be picked up at the library.
• District trustee elections will be held in odd years, and terms will be for 6 years rather than five. If a trustee resigns during his/her term, the trustee who is appointed to replace will serve until the next election (in an odd year) and then will serve out the rest of the term.
• There will be a staggered implementation that can be a rather complicated formula, but we will let you know more as the time gets closer.