1.    Each year during the month of February the commissioner shall identify the districts represented by council members whose terms are about to expire.

2.     a.    The commissioner shall forward to each producer residing in the district a letter inviting the producer to place the producer’s own name or the name of another producer into nomination for election to the council.

b.    The commissioner shall include a statement of eligibility to be completed by the producer seeking election and a nomination petition to be signed by four other producers.

3.    For a name to be placed on the ballot, the statement of eligibility and the nomination petition must be received by the council on the date specified by the commissioner which may not be later than April tenth.

4.    The commissioner shall prepare election ballots and mail the ballots to the producers in the district together with a statement indicating:

a.    The last date by which the ballots must be postmarked or filed with the council; b.    The date, time, and location at which the council will open and tabulate the ballots; and

c.    That any participating producer may be present at the time the ballots are opened and tabulated.

5.    The date selected for the opening and tabulation of ballots must be at least five days after the date by which ballots must be postmarked or filed with the council.

6.    After the election, the council shall notify the governor that the election has taken place and shall provide to the governor the name and address of the newly elected council member.

7.    If, by April tenth or the date specified by the commissioner, the council does not receive any nomination petitions from eligible producers in districts represented by council members whose terms are about to expire, the council may appoint an eligible producer from the district to serve on the council until the seat is filled by a write-in candidate in accordance with subsection 4.