If an original director who is required to reside in a particular county is to be selected by means of an election, the board of supervisors who determined that an election would be the method of selection shall call the election. Said election shall be held, within 30 days after need for a watershed management authority has been determined, as provided in Section 9-10A-8. Due notice shall be required prior to said election. All residents of the county where the director must reside who also reside within the boundaries of the authority shall be eligible to vote in said election, and only said residents shall be eligible to vote. Said residents shall be 18 years of age or older.

Each person who is qualified to vote for a resident director who desires to be elected a resident director of the watershed management authority shall file not later than 10 days prior to the date set for an election a nominating petition with the board of supervisors who called the election. Said petition shall be signed by 25 or more residents who are eligible to vote in the election, or, if less than 50 residents are involved, a majority of such residents.

Due notice of the election shall state the date of holding the election, the hours of opening and closing the polls, and shall designate one or more places as polling places. The board of supervisors who called the election shall appoint a polling superintendent and other necessary polling officers. Said board of supervisors shall prepare a ballot displaying the names of all eligible candidates and shall instruct the voters how to vote. The ballots shall be counted by the election officers at the close of the polls and a report of the results, along with the ballots shall be delivered to the polling superintendent, who shall certify the results to the board of supervisors who called the election. The position on the original board of directors shall be filled by the candidate who received the most votes.

The board of supervisors who called the election, by resolution, shall officially declare the winning candidate. Said board of supervisors shall certify the results to the several boards of supervisors authorizing the establishment of the authority, the probate judges of the counties within the authority, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the Secretary of State. The board of supervisors calling the election shall have authority to promulgate all necessary rules and regulations concerning the holding of said election. Costs of the election provided for by this section shall be paid by said board of supervisors. Once established, the board of directors of the watershed management authority may reimburse the board of supervisors for the cost of the election.

If the original at large directors referred to in Section 9-10A-9 are to be selected by means of an election, the several boards of supervisors who determined that an election would be the method of selection shall call the election. Said election shall be held within 30 days after need for a watershed management authority has been determined as provided in Section 9-10A-8. Due notice shall be required prior to said election. All residents of the authority who are 18 years of age or older shall be eligible to vote in said election, and only said residents shall be eligible to vote.

Each person who is qualified to vote for an at large director who desires to be elected an original at large director of the watershed management authority shall file not later than 10 days prior to the date set for an election a nominating petition with the board of supervisors who called the election. Said petition shall be signed by 25 or more residents within the watershed management authority who are eligible to vote in said election, or, if less than 50 residents are involved, a majority of such residents. If the candidates nominated do not exceed the positions available, said candidates shall be declared elected by the board of supervisors who called the election. If the number of individuals filing nominating petitions is greater than the number of available positions on the board of directors, then the election shall be held.

Due notice of the election shall state the date of holding the election, the hours of opening and closing the polls, and shall designate one or more places within the authority as polling places. The board of supervisors who called the election shall appoint a polling superintendent and other necessary polling officers. Said board of supervisors shall prepare a ballot displaying the names of all eligible candidates and shall instruct the voters regarding the number of candidates for which to vote. Ballots containing votes for less than the specified number of candidates for which an elector may vote shall be counted. Ballots containing votes for more than the specified number of candidates for which an elector may vote shall not be counted. The ballots shall be counted by the election officers at the close of the polls and a report of the results, along with the ballots shall be delivered to the polling superintendent, who shall certify the results to the board of supervisors. The original at large positions on the board of directors shall be filled by those candidates who received the most votes.

The board of supervisors who called the election, by resolution, shall officially declare the original at large members of the board of directors. Said board of supervisors shall certify the results to the probate judges of the counties within the authority, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the Secretary of State. Said board of supervisors shall have authority to promulgate all necessary rules and regulations concerning the holding of said election. Costs of the original at large director’s election shall be paid by the board of supervisors. If a joint board of supervisors is required, the cost of the election shall be paid equally by the several boards of supervisors comprising the joint board of supervisors. Once established, the board of directors of the watershed management authority may reimburse the board of supervisors or the several boards of supervisors comprising the joint board of supervisors for the cost of the election.