Task Number Three: Creating an Election Calendar

In order for an election to be held, a number of preliminary steps need to be taken. These steps include the collection of signatures on a petition, the presentation of these petitions to the district library board, city council, and county commissioners, the issuance of election orders by the city council, the publication of an election notice by the county, and the election itself, which will be held by the county at the next uniform election date.

Each of these steps must be taken within a certain time frame. Thus, to carry out any of the steps too early or too late could lead to an earlier or later election date than desired. It is therefore vital to create an election calendar that lists the time for each step in the process. We have prepared a worksheet for planning your election calendar.

• The first notice of the election must be published by the county at least twelve (12) calendar days prior to the election. A second notice must be published not later than five (5) days before the election. So count back five days for the second notice and twelve days for the first notice. Remember that these are the last days on which these activities can take place; they can be completed earlier, and indeed may have to be if the official paper for your county is a weekly. [See I.C. § 34-602.]
• The city council will need to be notified of the petitions and the district library board’s approval of the petitions long enough in advance to prepare for the election. This time frame should be coordinated with the city clerk and the city council, the county commissioners, and the county clerk.
• The district library board will need to receive the petitions and approve of the addition of the city before the city council can hold the election.
• Allow a minimum of two (2) weeks to secure the signatures needed on the petition. (The actual time will depend on the number of people you have carrying petitions and the number of signatures that you desire.)
• If the Idaho State Tax Commission agrees to review the legal description and map, you will need to give them copies at least six (6) weeks before the petitions are passed.

Assuming that the county will want a couple of months to prepare for the election, this means that petitions should be submitted no less than eight (8) weeks before the election date. However, this calendar should be part of the working group’s discussion with the city clerk, city council, county commissioners, and county clerk in the Planning Phase, and so the actual dates that will go onto your calendar will depend on that discussion.