(a) A person qualified to serve as a director may file an application with the secretary to have the applicant's name printed on the election ballots. The application must be signed by the applicant or by at least 10 qualified electors of the district and must be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the 45th day before the date of the election.
(b) Only persons for whom applications are filed under this section may have their names printed on the ballots. However, nothing in this section prevents write-in votes.