1. In each county whose population is less than 100,000, the board of county commissioners may, by ordinance, provide that the board of county commissioners consists of five members. Upon enactment of the ordinance, the board of county commissioners shall submit the ordinance to the registered voters of the county at the next primary or general election. The voters at the election shall vote on the question, “Shall the board of county commissioners be increased to five members.” If a majority of votes cast approve the question, the ordinance becomes effective upon certification of the vote by the county clerk, otherwise, the ordinance does not become effective.

2. If the ordinance becomes effective, the two additional members must be elected at the next general election. One member must be elected to an initial 2-year term and the other member must be elected to an initial 4-year term. The county clerk shall, on or before the first Monday in June of the year in which the election is to be held, designate which new position on the board will consist of a 2-year term and which will consist of a 4-year term. When the initial terms expire, subsequent terms for each new position are for 4 years.

3. A board of county commissioners increased to five members pursuant to this section may be decreased to three members in accordance with the provisions of subsection 4.

4. The board of county commissioners may, by ordinance, provide that the board of county commissioners consists of three members. Upon enactment of the ordinance, the board of county commissioners shall submit the ordinance to the registered voters of the county at the next primary or general election. The voters at the election shall vote on the question, “Shall the board of county commissioners be decreased to three members.” If a majority of votes cast approve the question, the ordinance becomes effective upon certification of the vote by the county clerk, otherwise, the ordinance does not become effective.

5. If the ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection 4 becomes effective, two seats on the board of county commissioners must be abolished as follows:

(a) If three seats are scheduled for election at the next general election, only one seat may come up for election.

(b) If two seats are scheduled for election at the next general election:

(1) Only one seat may come up for election; and

(2) One of the three seats elected at the preceding general election must be abolished effective at midnight of the day preceding the first Monday in January following the next general election.

The board of county commissioners shall draw lots to determine which seats must be abolished pursuant to this subsection.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 340; A 1979, 508; 1991, 1560)