(1) The members of the commission shall be elected by secret mail ballot under the supervision of the director of the department of agriculture. Members of the commission shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the grower members, each grower being entitled to one (1) vote. If a nominee does not receive a majority of the votes on the first ballot, a run-off election shall be held by mail in a similar manner between the two (2) candidates for such position receiving the largest number of votes. The cost of the election shall be paid by the commission although it is supervised by the department of agriculture.
(2) Any office which becomes vacant before expiration of the member’s term shall be filled by election in the manner provided for regular elections, except that such office may remain vacant until the next regular election if the vacancy is for less than one (1) year.