Decide On When You Want To Hold The Election
According to MCA 22-1-702, the election can be held in conjunction with a regular or primary election or it can be conducted by mail ballot. General elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Primary elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June and September.
There are financial advantages to holding an election when other elections are taking place. MCA 13-1-302 gives counties the responsibility for carrying out and paying for the election to establish a library district. Holding an election can be expensive, so county officials may be more favorable to districting if the election is held in conjunction with other elections.
Other circumstances may affect the election date choice. Think carefully about the election date and do some research on the history of local elections. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Have there been election dates where bond issues or districting elections have been particularly successful or unsuccessful?
- Are there dates when people are more or less likely to vote?
- Are there other bond issues or controversial items planned for any particular date?
Choosing the election date is a critical decision, as it will drive your calendar, can affect the costs of districting, and will influence other decisions during this phase of the districting project.
It may also be advantageous to have a mail in election. The district may have to pay for part or all of this cost, but other districting efforts have been successful after going through the mail in ballot process.
ASPeN: The New Library Directory
- Home
- Introduction To Public Library Districts
- What Are Districts?
- Pros And Cons Of Library Districts
- Difference Between Library Districts And Other Types Of Libraries
- Who To Contact For Help?
- Exploring Library Districts and Gauging Support for a District Effort
- Research The Districting Option
- Decide on Whether or Not to Create A Committee To Explore District Option
- Decide on Boundaries and Name of the District
- Decide on Services the District Might Offer
- Create a Budget for the District
- Determine the Amount of Mills You Will Need Levied
- Talk to Local Government Officials
- Talk to Library Supporters
- Decide Whether or Not to Move Forward With the District Option
- Exploring Library Districts Checklist
- Forming a District Group - The Role of Local Government Officials and the New Board
- Create an Official District Planning Group/Committee
- Coordinating Local Government Efforts
- The New Board of Trustees
- Forming a District Group Checklist
- Special Considerations
- Planning for Facilities
- Funding For The First Year
- Accounting, Legal, Maintenance Costs
- Transfer Of Staff And Benefits
- Special Considerations Checklist
- Pursuing the District: Legal Options For Forming A District
- Option 1: County Commissioners Pass a Resolution Putting the Library District Issue on the Ballot
- Option 2: Create the district through a petition process and then a resolution by the County Commissioners
- Develop A Map And Description Of The Boundaries Of The New District
- Decide Upon The Maximum Mill Levy That You Want For The District
- Decide On The Number Of Board Members
- Decide On When You Want To Hold The Election
- Draft The Petition
- Circulate The Petitions And Supporting Materials
- The Hearing With The County Commissioners
- Legal Options Checklist
- Election Process
- Create an Election Committee
- Create an Election Calendar
- Create a Public Relations Plan and Design Public Relations Material
- Present Your Idea to the Community
- Get Out the Vote on Election Day
- Conducting the Election
- Results Certification, Canvassing, and the Creation Order
- Election Process Checklist
- Outcomes Of The Effort
- Success
- Election Fails
- Appendices