Irrigation district election changes adopted

Lawmakers approved a bill May 7 that clarifies requirements for irrigation district elections.

Among other provisions, LB561, sponsored by Gering Sen. John Stinner, allows an irrigation district of less than 15,000 acres to eliminate subdistricts and hold at-large elections.

The bill specifies that in the case of land owned or leased by a corporation, trust or other legal entity, the entity will identify an elector-designee in writing not less than 30 days prior to an irrigation district election.

LB561 provides a process for determining who is entitled to vote if two or more persons claim conflicting rights to vote on the same acreage. The bill also allows irrigation districts, at their discretion, to conduct elections by mail.

The bill passed 48-0.