(1) The candidates for the office of judge of the district court receiving the largest number of votes at any primary election, to a number equal to twice the number of persons to be elected as set forth in the report of the board of state canvassers, based on the returns from the various county boards of canvassers and election precincts or as determined by the board as the result of a recount, shall be declared the nominees for the office at the next general November election. The board of state canvassers shall certify the nomination to the county election commissions.

    (2) If, after the deadline for filing nominating petitions under section 467b, there are fewer candidates for nomination or nominees for the office of judge of the district court than there are persons to be elected because of the death or disqualification of a candidate more than 65 days before the general November election, then a person, whether or not an incumbent, may qualify as a nominee for that office at the general November election by filing nominating petitions as required by section 467b. However, the filing shall be made before 4 p.m. on the twenty-first day following the death or disqualification of the candidate or 4 p.m. on the sixtieth day preceding the general November election, whichever is earlier, and the minimum number of signatures required is 1,000 or 1/2 the minimum number required under section 467b, whichever is less.

    (3) The secretary of state shall certify the nomination of each person who qualifies as a nominee under subsection (2) to the board of election commissioners specified by section 687 for the general November election.