If the board of county commissioners for any cause fails or refuses to call special elections, the county auditor may provide for and call any special election under any of the statutes of the state in force within such county, upon the petition of a majority of all the registered voters of the county, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election preceding such call.

Source: SL 1881, ch 73, § 1; CL 1887, § 645; RPolC 1903, § 888; RC 1919, § 5950; SDC 1939, § 12.0908; SL 1988, ch 63, § 2.