Whenever there is presented to the state board of education a petition signed by voters in each district in the proposed special district equal in number in each district to five percent of the number of votes cast for school board members in the last annual school election praying (a) that a special school district embracing the entire area described in the petition be organized for the education and training of handicapped and severely handicapped children and for vocational education purposes; and (b) that a proposal be submitted to the voters of the proposed district for the organization of the special school district, the state board of education, unless section 162.835 applies, shall, within thirty days of the receipt of said petition, direct the board of education of each school district comprising the proposed special district to cause the proposal to be submitted to the voters in each such district at the next municipal election or, if the next annual school election is more than sixty days away, cause the proposal to be submitted to the voters in each such district at a special election called in accordance with law on a date set by the state board of education. The election shall be conducted in each school district comprising the proposed special district in the manner provided by law for the conducting of school district elections generally in sections 162.351 and 162.601, unless a different procedure is specifically provided in sections 162.670 to 162.995.