The bill amends Section 22-2721 of the Idaho Code to revise the election dates for soil conservation district supervisors and repeals the existing section related to their election, appointment, qualifications, and tenure. A new Section 22-2721 is introduced, maintaining the structure of five supervisors, with the option to increase to seven if necessary. The bill specifies that elections will be conducted by the county clerk and outlines the nomination process, election conduct, and result certification. It also establishes that all supervisors must be landowners or farmers within the district and registered voters in Idaho. Notably, the bill changes the election dates for supervisors scheduled for November 2026 and November 2028 to the third Tuesday in May 2027 and May 2029, respectively, both for a term of four years.

Additionally, the bill amends several sections of the Idaho Code concerning mail ballot precincts and the canvassing of election results. It allows the board of county commissioners to designate a mail ballot precinct with no more than 140 registered electors, with the designation remaining until the precinct exceeds 151 registered electors. The timeline for mailing ballots is modified from "twenty-four (24)" days to "forty-five (45)" days prior to the election, and the deadline for mailing ballots is adjusted from the "fourteenth" to the "eleventh" day before the election. The bill also revises the canvassing timeline, reducing it from "ten (10)" days to "nine (9)" days after the election, and establishes that the county clerk must certify the election results to the appropriate political subdivisions. An emergency clause is included, with certain sections taking effect on July 1, 2026, and others on July 1, 2029.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 22-2721, 34-308, 34-1410