According to I.C. § 34-106, on and after January 1, 2011, there are only two days each year on which an election may be held:
- The third Tuesday in May of each year; and
- The Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each year.
Because property tax funding from the territory added to the district will not become available until the second January after the election [See Task Eight in the Planning Phase], from an administrative point of view, it is best to hold the election as late in the year as possible. This would seem to make a November election the ideal.
Beginning in 2011, the county clerk now conducts the elections for political subdivisions (including library districts) and performs 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 (title 34, chapter 14, Idaho Code).
There are also financial advantages to holding an election when other elections are being held. Idaho Code gives the counties the responsibility for carrying out the election to enlarge a library district. [See I.C. §§ 34-1401 and 34-1411.] Holding an election, however, can be an expensive proposition. County officials may be more favorable toward the districting proposal if the Working Group plans for the election at a convenient time for the county. If the election is held at the same time as other elections
being conducted by the county, for instance, the county will incur little additional cost. District boundaries that do not cross voter precinct lines also makes the election easier to run. These should be definite considerations in choosing an election date and district boundaries.
Other circumstances may also affect the choice of the election date. It will be wise to think carefully about the election date and to do some research on the history of local elections.
Some questions to ask:
- Have there been uniform election dates when bond issues or districting elections have been particularly successful or unsuccessful?
- Are there dates when people are more likely to vote or less likely to vote?
- Are there other bond issues or districting elections planned for any date?
If another taxing district has been particularly successful in passing bond issues or other elections, you may want to seek advice on the selection of an election date, and other election processes, from its staff or board.
The selection of an election date is a critical decision, as it will drive the election calendar, and will influence all other decisions during this phase of the districting project.