Nominating petition not to be circulated prior to January first - Special election

No nominating petition provided for in sections 16.1-11-06 and 16.1-11-11 may be circulated or signed prior to January first preceding the primary election. Any signatures to a petition secured before that time may not be counted. A nominating petition for a special election may not be circulated or signed more than thirty days before the time when a petition for the special election must be filed.