Sec. 18. (a) After the secretary of state issues a certificate of organization to the supervisors of a newly reestablished district under section 17 of this chapter, the board shall, when appropriate, circulate petitions for the nomination of candidates for the three (3) elected supervisor positions of the reestablished district. The petitions must be filed with the board not more than sixty (60) days after the secretary of state issues the certificate of organization. However, the board may extend the time within which the petitions may be filed.

     (b) To be valid, a nominating petition must meet the following conditions:

(1) The candidate named on the petition must meet the qualifications for elected supervisors set forth in IC 14-32-4-1(b).

(2) The petition must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) land occupiers whose tracts of land are located within the district.

     (c) A land occupier may sign more than one (1) petition to nominate more than one (1) candidate.

     (d) Not more than thirty (30) days after receiving at least four (4) valid nominating petitions, the board shall do the following:

(1) Give due notice that an election, by secret ballot, will be held to elect the three (3) supervisors of the newly reestablished district.

(2) Prescribe appropriate procedures for the conduct of the election and the determination of the eligibility of voters.

(3) Supervise the conduct of the election.

(4) Publish the results of the election.

(5) Pay all expenses arising from the issuance of notices and the holding of the election.

As added by P.L.136-1997, SEC.35.