An election upon the question of organizing an irrigation district must be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the state. After the polls are closed, the election board shall proceed to canvass the votes cast, and the clerk of the election board shall certify to the department of water resources the result of the election. The clerk of the board then shall wrap securely the ballots cast at the election and shall express or mail the secured ballots by registered or certified mail to the department, which also shall canvass the ballots and verify the result. The department shall file and retain in the department’s office the ballots cast at the election.