(a) The inspectors and officers of the special county election shall be appointed and said election shall be held and the results of such election shall be declared in the same manner and by the same officers as the results of the regular election for county officers, under the general election laws of the state; provided, that the election may be held at the time for holding any regular election in the county; and, if held at such time, the inspectors and officers of the general election shall conduct at the same time the election herein provided for and for such services they shall receive no compensation other than that allowed them for the holding of the general election. If the election is held at some other time than that of holding the regular election in the county, then the election officers shall receive the same pay as that for holding the general election.

(b) The managers and returning officers, provided for above, shall conduct and make return of such election in the rural or city school tax district; and, in the event such election officers fail to appear at the polling place to which they are appointed, the officer or officers who do appear shall appoint someone to take their places. All election officers shall be residents of the special school tax district and qualified electors of the beat or precinct in which they reside. The sheriff shall notify all officers of their appointment by the county commission. The managers of such election shall open and close the polls pursuant to Section 17-7-5.1 on the date of election and, immediately upon closing the polls, shall ascertain the results of the election at their respective voting places, and make returns of the same to the county commission and deliver the ballot box containing the returns, with the poll lists, tally sheets and other necessary papers, to the returning officers of such voting places, who shall deliver the same to the county commission on or before noon of the second day of the said election. The county commission shall, within four days after said election, canvass the returns so made and under oath make a written report declaring the result of said election in said school tax district, showing the number of votes cast, both for and against the proposed taxation. A copy of such report shall be printed in some newspaper published in the county, and the original shall be filed in the office of the probate judge. Except as otherwise provided herein, said election shall be held under the general laws of the state.