71-1410. Petition for change of method of election; plan of change; approval by state board; number of required signatures. (a) Ten or more electors of any community college district may prepare a plan of change and submit the same to the state board. If any such plan of change is so filed, the state board may consider the same, and if it finds such plan of change is complete, lawful and timely, it may promptly so certify to the county election officer of the college district.

(b) Upon receipt of a plan of change with the certified approval of the state board, the county election officer shall notify the first person listed as having submitted such plan of change of such approval. Upon receiving such notice, the person so notified may cause petitions to be prepared which set out in full the plan of change approved, and if such petitions are then approved as to form by the county election officer, such petitions may be distributed among interested electors of the community college district in as many copies as seem suitable to the person preparing the same as provided in this section. Any elector residing in the community college district may sign any such petition, and one elector signing each petition shall subscribe a certificate thereto that such elector personally observed each signer place such signer's signature thereon, and that such petition is valid as such subscribing elector verily believes. Only electors who are duly registered to vote may sign such a petition.

(c) If such petitions are filed with the county election officer and the county election officer determines that such petitions are validly signed by the number of electors provided in subsection (d) of this section, the county election officer shall upon making such determination call an election for approval of the plan of change in the manner provided in K.S.A. 71-1411, and amendments thereto.

(d) The number of valid signatures on petitions filed as provided in subsection (c) of this section shall be determined as follows:

(1) In any college district which had the election-at-large method in effect at the last preceding general election of members, a number equal to 10% of the total number of ballots cast and counted at such preceding election shall be the number of signatures required for a valid petition.

(2) In any college district which had a member district method in effect at the last preceding general election of members, the number of signatures required for a valid petition shall be computed as provided in subpart (1) of this subsection if one or more members were elected in each of the member districts of the college district or if voting plan-A or voting plan-B was in effect. In any college district which had a member district method in effect at the last preceding general election of members, if members were not elected in all the member districts of the college district and if voting plan-C was in effect at such preceding general election, the number of valid signatures required shall be computed as follows: Divide the total number of ballots cast and counted in the general election by the number of member districts in which members were elected and multiply the result by the number of member districts in the college district; then, multiply the amount so determined by .10.

(e) Within 10 days after the filing of petitions as provided in this section, the county election officer shall determine the validity thereof.

History: L. 1969, ch. 341, § 3; L. 1980, ch. 207, § 77; L. 1990, ch. 252, § 9; May 17.