(a) At the first general district election following January 1, 1996, all directors shall be elected. The terms of office of those directors who are in office on January 1, 1996, shall be shortened and shall expire upon the election and qualification of their successors at that first general district election described in this subdivision. In that first district election and in all subsequent elections, except as specified in subdivision (b), the form of the ballot and the conduct of the election shall be governed by the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code) for resident voting elections.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 1304 of the Elections Code, the general district election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year to choose a successor for each director whose term of office will expire on the following first Friday in December, and shall be consolidated with the statewide general election in accordance with Part 3 (commencing with Section 10400) of Division 10 of the Elections Code.

(c) Those directors whose four-year terms of office would, prior to the amendment of this section during the 1995–96 session of the Legislature, have expired on the first Friday in December of 1995 shall, instead, continue in their offices until not later than the fourth Tuesday after the day of the general district election held in 1996 pursuant to this section.

(d) Immediately following the general district election described in subdivision (a), the directors so elected at that election shall determine by lot as to those two directors who shall serve two-year terms and as to the three directors who shall serve four-year terms. Except as provided in this subdivision, all directors shall serve four-year terms.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 355, Sec. 1. Effective August 4, 1995.)