District elections shall be conducted in conformance with the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code) and the laws generally applicable to districts created and operated pursuant to this division, provided the following shall apply:

(a) Separate ballots shall be prepared and separate elections shall be conducted for those director positions which will be elected by resident voters and for those which will be elected by landowner voters. Notwithstanding Section 10555 of the Elections Code, these landowner voter elections and resident voter elections shall be conducted simultaneously.

(b) District elections shall be conducted by all-mailed ballots pursuant to Section 4108 of the Elections Code. Separate voter lists of resident voters and landowner voters eligible to vote within the district shall be prepared and maintained according to applicable provisions of law, including Section 10525 of the Elections Code. Separate all-mailed ballot elections shall be held for the directors to be elected by resident voters and for those to be elected by landowner voters.

(c) The directors elected upon formation of the district shall hold office pursuant to Section 10505 of the Elections Code. For the purposes of implementing this section, the director positions elected by large landowners shall be divided into two director term classes, the directors elected by medium landowners shall be divided into two director term classes, the directors elected by small landowners shall be divided into two director term classes, and the directors elected by registered voters shall be divided into two director term classes.

(d) Elections of directors shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in October of each odd-numbered year.

(e) The voters list used for the purpose of an election of directors shall be based upon the last assessment roll prepared by the county assessor, which shall be conclusive evidence of ownership and the acreage for purposes of electing directors in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 37911. The voters list shall be amended if satisfactory evidence of a change in ownership is presented at least 45 days prior to the election to the elections official in the case of the formation election, and thereafter to the district secretary. The county assessor shall be reimbursed by the district for all costs incurred in determining the ownership and acreage information and providing the information to the county clerk.

(f) For purposes of the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code), the district is a landowner voting district.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 350, Sec. 1. (AB 2453) Effective January 1, 2015.)