When the city council has been notified of the district library board’s approval of the petition request, the city clerk orders the election and gives notice to the county clerk, who conducts the election within the city limits.
Conduct of the Election. It is the county’s legal responsibility to conduct and pay for the election within the city that is proposed to be added to the library district. [See I.C. § 34-1411.] All notices of the election must be given in accordance with general election laws of the state of Idaho, and the election conducted according to those laws. [See I.C. § 34-1401.]
The ballot must contain the wording:
Shall {city name} become part of the {district name} Public Library District–Yes
Shall {city name} become part of the {district name} Public Library District–No
each followed by a box in which the elector can mark her/his choice. A sample ballot has been provided.
It is a good idea for the Working Group representatives who have been working with the city clerk to stay in touch with the clerk throughout the election process and to monitor the various election processes that need to be completed.
Getting Out the Vote. One of the most important public relations activities is to prepare to get out the vote on election day. Lists of supporters who have indicated their support for the library district should be kept. If possible, these voters should be listed by precinct or voting place.
On election days, volunteers can then contact these voters to remind them to vote and to give them information about voting hours and their voting place. Individuals who need assistance should be offered help in obtaining absentee ballots or rides to the polls. If the election is not being held during a general election, it is vital to get out supportive voters, since relatively few voters will vote. Thus, a small number of voters can make a big difference in this kind of election.
Results Notification and the Order Amending District Boundaries. After receiving the certification of results of the election from the county clerk, the city clerk informs the city council of the results. The city council then notifies the district library board and the county commissioners of all affected counties of the results of the city election. If the electors have voted for the city to join the district, the county commissioners of the home county issue an order amending the district boundaries, which includes a map drawn in a draftsmanlike manner. A copy of this order is sent to the library board, to the county commissioners of the county in which the petition arose, and the Board of Library Commissioners.
Board of Library Commissioners
Idaho Commission for Libraries
325 W. State Street
Boise, ID 83702
The library board sends a copy of the order to the county recorder, the county assessor of the home county of the district, and Idaho State Tax Commission “in a timely manner, but no later than December 15 of the year in which the election was held.” [See I.C. § 33-2705.]