When the district library board receives the petitions, a true copy must also be delivered to the county commissioners in each county affected.
The Election Order. When the county commissioners have been notified that the district library board has approved the petitions, the commissioners are required to make an order for an election at the next uniform election date. [See I.C. § 33-2707(3).] The election is only held in the part of the county to be annexed to the district. An election is not held in the existing district, as district residents have already voted to tax themselves for library services.
Conduct of the Election. Once the county commissioners have made the order for the election, it is the county’s legal responsibility to carry out the election procedures. [See I.C. §§ 34-1401 and 34-1411.] All notices of the election shall be given in accordance with general election laws of the State of Idaho, and the election conducted according to those laws. As stated in I.C. § 33-2705, the ballot must contain the wording:
Shall {area} become part of the {district name} Library District–Yes
Shall {area} become part of the {district name} Library District–No
each followed by a box in which the elector can mark his or her choice. We have prepared a sample ballot.
Reality Check
It is a good idea for the Working Group representatives who have been working with the county 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 activities for an election is the effort to get out the vote on election day. In order to get out the vote, lists of voters 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. The homebound and others in need of assistance should be offered help in obtaining absentee ballots or transportation to and from the polls. If the election is not being held during a general election, it is vital to motivate and encourage supportive voters, as relatively few registered voters will make it to the polls. Thus, a small number of voters can make a big difference in this kind of election.
Results Certification, Canvassing, and the Order Amending District Boundaries. After the election, the board of election (election judges appointed by the county clerk) must certify the results to the county commissioners within three (3) days, and within seven (7) days the county commissioners must canvass the results. [See I.C. § 33-2705.] If the majority of voters vote to add the territory to the district, the county commissioners of the home county of the district are required to enter an order amending the district’s boundaries and to send a copy of that order to the other county commissions that are affected, to the board of trustees of the library district, and to the state Board of Library Commissioners.
The board of trustees of the library district is then required to send a certified copy of this order to the county recorder, the county assessor of the home county, and the Idaho State Tax Commission “in a timely manner, but no later than December 15, in the calendar year in which the election was held”. [See I.C. § 33-2705.]