70 ILCS 405/20
Within 30 days after the issuance of the Secretary of State of the certification of organization of a soil and water conservation district, nominating petitions may be filed with the Department for the nomination of candidates for directors of such district. The Department may extend the time within which such nominating petitions may be filed. After the first election nominating petitions may be filed with the Department not more than 60 days nor less than 20 days prior to the date of the election. No nominating petition shall be accepted by the Department unless it shall be subscribed by 25 or more owners or occupiers of land, or both, lying within the boundaries of such district. Land owners or occupiers, or both, may sign more than one such nominating petition. The names of all nominees on behalf of whom such nominating petitions have been filed in the time herein designated or such further time as may be granted by the Department shall appear, arranged in the alphabetical order of the surnames upon ballots with a square before each name and a direction to insert an X in the square before a number of names equal to the number of directors to be elected, and with instructions to vote for not more than the proper number of directors. Only owners or occupiers of land, or both, lying within the district are eligible to vote in such election and each shall be entitled to cast one ballot. Such ballot may be cast in person or by absentee ballot. The Department shall prescribe regulations governing the conduct of such election and the determination of the eligibility of voters therein, and shall announce the results thereof. The 5 nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.
70 ILCS 405/20