(1) All declarations of candidacy for elective city offices shall be filed with the clerk of the respective city wherein the elections are to be held not earlier than 8:00 a.m. on the eleventh Monday nor later than 5:00 p.m. on the ninth Friday, immediately preceding election day. Before a candidate files a petition of candidacy with the city clerk, the petition signatures shall be verified by the county clerk in the manner described in section 34-1807, Idaho Code, except that the city clerk shall stand in place of the secretary of state. Before any declaration of candidacy and filing fee or petition of candidacy mentioned in section 50-407, Idaho Code, can be filed, the city clerk shall ascertain that it conforms to the provisions of chapter 4, title 50, Idaho Code. The city clerk shall not accept any declarations of candidacy after 5:00 p.m. on the ninth Friday immediately preceding election day. Write-in candidates shall be governed by section 34-702A, Idaho Code, but shall file the declarations required in that section with the city clerk.