OPINION
By the Court,
Gunderson, C. J.:
The two matters before us, consolidated for argument and decision, address the same questions, to-wit: whether NRS [429]*429244.017, which our Legislature adopted in 1971, violates Sections 20 and 21 of Article IV, of Nevada’s Constitution, because that statute expressly endeavors to govern elections solely in Clark County;1 and (2) if so, whether under other [430]*430proper and prevailing law the Registrar of Voters is obligated to conduct an election in Clark County, in which all qualified persons may seek the office of county commissioner. Both questions must be answered in the affirmative.
James Bixler, respondent and cross-appellant in one of the matters before us, sought to file a declaration of candidacy with Stanton Colton, Clark County’s Registrar of Voters, seeking to run at-large for the office of county commissioner. Rebuffed by Colton, on grounds that the governing statute, NRS 244.017, does not contemplate Bixler’s filing for such office in such manner, Bixler sought a writ of mandamus in district court. Although the district court agreed NRS 244.017 is unconstitutional, it held NRS 244.013 and 244.033 would govern 1976 elections in Clark County.2 Thus, since Bixler sought to run at-large, and since no at-large seat would be available this year under the latter statutes, the district court denied mandamus. [431]*431From these determinations, the Registrar of Voters, Colton, has appealed; Bixler has cross-appealed.3
We reverse and remand Bixler’s-case to district court, with instructions to grant a writ of mandamus, in accord with this opinion. The certiorari proceedings also before us, we hereby dismiss, it being evident that all necessary relief is afforded the parties through our disposition of the appeal and cross-appeal.
1. Contrary to contentions appellant Colton proffered to the district court, which seemingly he has abandoned on appeal, the respondent and cross-appellant James M. Bixler correctly utilized mandamus to test his right to run on an at-large basis for the Board of County Commissioners. See, for example: State v. Malone, 68 Nev. 32, 226 P.2d 277 (1951); McDonald v. Beemer, 67 Nev. 419, 220 P.2d 217 (1950). Upon facts indistinguishable from those before us, this court has said “mandamus is the proper remedy.” McDonald v. Beemer, id., 67 Nev. at 421.
2. Contrary to contentions appellant proffers now for the first time on appeal, it is equally well settled that special laws like NRS 244.017, which endeavor to govern elections in a single, designated county, violate Sections 20 and 21, Article IV, of the Nevada Constitution, and thus are void. See, State v. Malone and McDonald v. Beemer, cited above; County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, 92 Nev. 323, 550 P.2d 779 (1976), and cases cited therein.
Since the Legislature has defeated its own primary intent, our task now is to divine, as best we can, in other statutes and in the remnants of the statute enacting NRS 244.017, what the Legislature’s alternative intent would be. See: County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, cited above.
[432]*432The conclusions we reach through this effort, by the undertaking’s very nature, may be subject to some doubt and debate; for such alternative intent may only be inferred, and of course is unclear. Still, in these circumstances, courts can only fill the legal interstices as best they are able.
3. One point, at least, is clear. Contrary to Bixler’s contentions, it would certainly be inconsistent with discernible, valid legislative intent to declare that an election in a county of 100,-000 or more should be governed by the provisions of either NRS 244.010 or NRS 244.011.4 Quite intentionally, the Legislature removed larger counties from the purview of NRS 244.-010 in 1960, by an Act general in form. See: Chapter 85, Stats, of 1960. Then, by a general act passed in 1973, adopting NRS 244.011, the Legislature again indicated that only the small counties were to be governed by that statute and by NRS 244.010. See: Chapter 274, Stats, of 1973.
[433]*4334. Clearly also, we think, it would be improper to govern the election and tenure of commissioners, in large counties of 200,000 population or more, either by the provisions of NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033, as the district court held should be done, or by NRS 244.014.5
In 1971, the Legislature expressly limited the purview of NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033, to counties of less than 200,-000. To be sure, this amendment came as part of Chapter 649, 1971 Statutes of Nevada, which was the same Act that purported to adopt NRS 244.017. Thus, although the provisions simultaneously amending NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033 appear acceptably general if considered by themselves, the district judge reasoned that they were not severable from the unconstitutional provisions of Chapter 649 because the Legislature would not have adopted them alone. Cf. County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, cited above. Thus, the district judge reasoned further: (1) that a five rather than a seven commissioner board should exist in Clark County; and (2) that despite the present seven commissioner board’s unlawful election and composition, Mr.
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OPINION
By the Court,
Gunderson, C. J.:
The two matters before us, consolidated for argument and decision, address the same questions, to-wit: whether NRS [429]*429244.017, which our Legislature adopted in 1971, violates Sections 20 and 21 of Article IV, of Nevada’s Constitution, because that statute expressly endeavors to govern elections solely in Clark County;1 and (2) if so, whether under other [430]*430proper and prevailing law the Registrar of Voters is obligated to conduct an election in Clark County, in which all qualified persons may seek the office of county commissioner. Both questions must be answered in the affirmative.
James Bixler, respondent and cross-appellant in one of the matters before us, sought to file a declaration of candidacy with Stanton Colton, Clark County’s Registrar of Voters, seeking to run at-large for the office of county commissioner. Rebuffed by Colton, on grounds that the governing statute, NRS 244.017, does not contemplate Bixler’s filing for such office in such manner, Bixler sought a writ of mandamus in district court. Although the district court agreed NRS 244.017 is unconstitutional, it held NRS 244.013 and 244.033 would govern 1976 elections in Clark County.2 Thus, since Bixler sought to run at-large, and since no at-large seat would be available this year under the latter statutes, the district court denied mandamus. [431]*431From these determinations, the Registrar of Voters, Colton, has appealed; Bixler has cross-appealed.3
We reverse and remand Bixler’s-case to district court, with instructions to grant a writ of mandamus, in accord with this opinion. The certiorari proceedings also before us, we hereby dismiss, it being evident that all necessary relief is afforded the parties through our disposition of the appeal and cross-appeal.
1. Contrary to contentions appellant Colton proffered to the district court, which seemingly he has abandoned on appeal, the respondent and cross-appellant James M. Bixler correctly utilized mandamus to test his right to run on an at-large basis for the Board of County Commissioners. See, for example: State v. Malone, 68 Nev. 32, 226 P.2d 277 (1951); McDonald v. Beemer, 67 Nev. 419, 220 P.2d 217 (1950). Upon facts indistinguishable from those before us, this court has said “mandamus is the proper remedy.” McDonald v. Beemer, id., 67 Nev. at 421.
2. Contrary to contentions appellant proffers now for the first time on appeal, it is equally well settled that special laws like NRS 244.017, which endeavor to govern elections in a single, designated county, violate Sections 20 and 21, Article IV, of the Nevada Constitution, and thus are void. See, State v. Malone and McDonald v. Beemer, cited above; County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, 92 Nev. 323, 550 P.2d 779 (1976), and cases cited therein.
Since the Legislature has defeated its own primary intent, our task now is to divine, as best we can, in other statutes and in the remnants of the statute enacting NRS 244.017, what the Legislature’s alternative intent would be. See: County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, cited above.
[432]*432The conclusions we reach through this effort, by the undertaking’s very nature, may be subject to some doubt and debate; for such alternative intent may only be inferred, and of course is unclear. Still, in these circumstances, courts can only fill the legal interstices as best they are able.
3. One point, at least, is clear. Contrary to Bixler’s contentions, it would certainly be inconsistent with discernible, valid legislative intent to declare that an election in a county of 100,-000 or more should be governed by the provisions of either NRS 244.010 or NRS 244.011.4 Quite intentionally, the Legislature removed larger counties from the purview of NRS 244.-010 in 1960, by an Act general in form. See: Chapter 85, Stats, of 1960. Then, by a general act passed in 1973, adopting NRS 244.011, the Legislature again indicated that only the small counties were to be governed by that statute and by NRS 244.010. See: Chapter 274, Stats, of 1973.
[433]*4334. Clearly also, we think, it would be improper to govern the election and tenure of commissioners, in large counties of 200,000 population or more, either by the provisions of NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033, as the district court held should be done, or by NRS 244.014.5
In 1971, the Legislature expressly limited the purview of NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033, to counties of less than 200,-000. To be sure, this amendment came as part of Chapter 649, 1971 Statutes of Nevada, which was the same Act that purported to adopt NRS 244.017. Thus, although the provisions simultaneously amending NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033 appear acceptably general if considered by themselves, the district judge reasoned that they were not severable from the unconstitutional provisions of Chapter 649 because the Legislature would not have adopted them alone. Cf. County of Clark v. City of Las Vegas, cited above. Thus, the district judge reasoned further: (1) that a five rather than a seven commissioner board should exist in Clark County; and (2) that despite the present seven commissioner board’s unlawful election and composition, Mr. Bixler may not run to replace any of its unlawfully seated members because, as the judge said, “neither of [434]*434those two seats [up for election under NRS 244.013 and 244.-033] are at-large seats.” We disapprove this reasoning.
In the first place, by virtue of another enactment passed in the 1975 Legislative session, NRS 244.013 and 244.033 will not govern elections in any county this year — not even elections in any counties numerically within their former express purview. By Chapter 467, 1975 Statutes of Nevada, a law suitably general in its terms, the Legislature declared the repeal of both NRS 244.013 and NRS 244.033, declaring that “this act shall become effective January 1, 1976, for the purpose of electing county commissioners at the general election in 1976.” Moreover, the parties seemingly recognize that application of NRS 244.013 and 244.033 in Clark County would not satisfy the “one man, one vote” concept.6 Thus, we think, the district court clearly erred in its conclusion that the election this year in Clark County should somehow be controlled by those statutes.
5. We believe that NRS 244.014 (a part of Chapter 467, 1975 Statutes of Nevada), which was a sufficiently general statute, constituted a proper legislative declaration in 1975 that five-member boards shall exist, and be elected, only in counties of less than 200,000 population. And while NRS 244.014 does not expressly state what number of commissioners should govern in counties of 200,000 and more, we are satisfied that the Legislature contemplated a larger board in larger counties, not a smaller one. In deliberative bodies, boards of odd rather than even numbers are usual, and seven is the odd integer next above five. Thus, for this and other reasons, quite aside from expressions in the unconstitutional 1971 Act, we find substantial reason to believe that the 1975 Legislature intended that [435]*435the board of commissioners governing counties of 200,000 and over should be seven in number. Cf. Kelly v. Reed, 76 Nev. 389, 393-394, 355 P.2d 969, 971 (1960).
6. At such time as our decision in this case becomes final (either upon denial of rehearing, or upon expiration of the allowed time for petitioning for rehearing, which we hereby limit to and including July 7, 1976, at 12:00 noon), the de facto existence of the present board of commissioners will cease. Thereupon, the Governor of Nevada will be obligated to appoint seven qualified persons to serve as the county commissioners of Clark County, Nevada, until their successors can be elected at the coming general election, and qualify.
7. It appears to us that re-districting may not now be accomplished in time to permit the election to proceed in an orderly way. We regret that the parties did not place this dispute before us at an earlier time. Cf. Beebe v. Koontz, 72 Nev. 247, 302 P.2d 486 (1956). At-large elections being the only feasible way now legally available, appellant Stanton Colton is hereby directed to conduct at-large elections for all seven commissioner seats, such seats to be separately designated “A” through “G.” “A” through “C” shall be for terms ending the first Monday in January, 1979, and “D” through “G” shall be for terms ending the first Monday in January, 1981.
Mr. Colton shall accept Mr. Bixler as a candidate for any one of such seats, upon Mr. Bixler’s presentation of nomination papers and filing fee.
Upon remittitur, a writ of mandamus shall issue, in accord with this opinion.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded.
Batjer, Zenoff, Mowbray, and Thompson, JJ., concur.