190.050.  Election districts, how established — election of directors — declaration of candidacy filed, where, when — ordinance to abolish or establish boundaries, procedure. — 1.  (1)  After the ambulance district has been declared organized, the declaring county commission shall divide the district into six election districts as equal in population as possible or provide for the election of six directors elected at large from within the district.

  (2)  If the county commission divides the district into election districts, the commission shall by lot number the districts from one to six inclusive.  The county commission shall cause an election to be held in the ambulance district on the next regularly scheduled election date after the order establishing the ambulance district to elect ambulance district directors.  Each voter shall vote for one director from the ambulance election district in which the voter resides.  The directors elected from districts one and four shall serve for a term of one year, the directors elected from districts two and five shall serve for a term of two years, and the directors from districts three and six shall serve for a term of three years; thereafter, the terms of all directors shall be three years.  All directors shall serve the term to which they were elected or appointed, and until their successors are elected and qualified, except in cases of resignation or disqualification.  The county commission shall reapportion the ambulance districts within sixty days after the population of the county is reported to the governor for each decennial census of the United States.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the number of candidates for the office of director is no greater than the number of directors to be elected, no election shall be held, and the candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same time and in the same manner as if they have been elected.

  (3)  If the county commission provides for an at-large board of directors, it shall order an election be held on the next regularly scheduled election date and the voters shall vote for six directors elected at large from within the district for a term of three years.  The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes at such election shall be elected for a term of three years, the two candidates receiving the third and fourth highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of two years, the two candidates receiving the fifth and sixth highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of one year; thereafter, the term of all directors shall be three years.  A director holding office as of August 28, 2026, shall continue as an at-large director for the remainder of such director's existing term.

  2.  A candidate for director of the ambulance district shall, at the time of filing, be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the district for two years next preceding the election, and shall be at least twenty-four years of age.  In an established district which is located within the jurisdiction of more than one election authority, the candidate shall file his or her declaration of candidacy with the secretary of the board.  In all other districts, a candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy with the county clerk of the county in which he or she resides.  A candidate shall file a statement under oath that he or she possesses the required qualifications.  No candidate's name shall be printed on any official ballot unless the candidate has filed a written declaration of candidacy pursuant to subsection 5 of section 115.127.  If the time between the county commission's call for a special election and the date of the election is not sufficient to allow compliance with subsection 5 of section 115.127, the county commission shall, at the time it calls the special election, set the closing date for filing declarations of candidacy.

  3.  An ambulance district may, following a public hearing subject to the provisions of chapter 610, by an ordinance adopted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors, abolish the boundaries of any existing election subdistricts if the board is unable to find a qualified candidate to fill the director position of each such subdistrict.  Such ordinance may eliminate the subdistricts entirely and provide for the election of directors at large.  A copy of the ordinance shall be filed with the county clerk.  Upon the abolition of such election subdistricts, all current directors shall serve as directors at large for the remainder of their existing terms.

  4.  Any ambulance district may, by an ordinance adopted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of directors, establish election subdistricts.  Each election subdistrict shall consist of contiguous territory and shall be as compact and nearly equal in population as practicable.  The boundaries of such subdistricts shall be established by the county commission.  Each board member shall be a resident of the election subdistrict that he or she represents at the time of election and shall remain a resident of such subdistrict for the duration of the member's term.

  5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if the number of candidates for the office of director is no greater than the number of directors to be elected, no election shall be held, and the candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same time and in the same manner as if they were elected.