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 city 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. There are also financial advantages to holding an election when other elections are being held. Idaho code requires the county to conduct and pay for the election. [See I.C. §§ 33-2709, 34-1401, and 34-1411.] This should be a consideration in choosing an election date.
However, local circumstances may also affect the choice of the election date. Some questions to ask are:
- 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.