(1) Upon the filing of a recall petition, the secretary of the irrigation district shall proceed to verify and canvass the names of legal voters on the petition.
(2)  The verification and canvass of signatures on the petition may be observed by persons representing the advocates and opponents of the proposed recall so long as they make no record of the names, addresses, or other information on the petitions or related records during the verification process except upon the order of the magistrate court. The secretary of the irrigation district may limit the number of observers if in his opinion a greater number would cause undue delay or disruption of the verification process. Any such limitation shall apply equally to both sides, but in no case shall fewer than two (2) observers on each side be allowed. If the secretary of the irrigation district finds the same name signed to more than one (1) petition, he shall reject all but one (1) such valid signature.