40-12-05. City auditor to determine sufficiency of initiative petition - Certificate attached to petition

40-12-05. City auditor to determine sufficiency of initiative petition - Certificate attached to petition. Within ten days after the filing of a petition to initiate an ordinance, the city auditor shall examine the petition and ascertain from the voters' register whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of qualified electors. The governing body of the municipality shall allow such extra help for the examination of the petition as it deems necessary. The city auditor shall attach to the petition the city auditor's certificate showing the result of the examination and if the petition is insufficient, the city auditor shall state in the city auditor's certificate the reasons therefor. If the city auditor's certificate shows the petition to be insufficient, it may be amended within ten days from the date of the certificate. Within ten days after any such amendment, the city auditor shall make an examination of the amended petition, and if the city auditor's certificate attached thereto shall show the amended petition to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the person filing the same without prejudice to the filing of a new petition to the same effect. If the petition is sufficient, the city auditor shall submit it to the governing body of the municipality without delay.