As soon as practicable after the issuance by the secretary of state of the certificate of organization of a soil conservation district, and before the next general election, the committee shall give notice that nominating petitions may be filed with the county auditor, and that at the next general election held in the district three supervisors must be elected, who must be land occupiers of the district and who constitute the governing body of the district.
N.D.C.C. § 4.1-20-15