Prior to the holding of an election upon the question of establishing and organizing an irrigation district, the department of water resources shall appoint from the electors of the district one clerk and two judges to constitute a board of election for the district. If the district is divided into divisions or precincts, the board of election must be appointed from the electors of each division and shall serve as a board of election for the district. If the members appointed do not attend at the opening of the polls on the day of election, the electors present at that hour may choose the members of the election board or fill the place of an absent member of the election board.
N.D.C.C. § 61-05-16