ARTICLE 7. ELECTIONS ON METRO GOVERNMENT.

§7A-7-1. Expenses for election.

The governing body of the affected county is responsible for the expenses of holding an election on the question of consolidation.

§7A-7-2. Notice for election.

(a) At least sixty days prior to the election on the question of metro consolidation, the governing bodies of the principal city and affected county shall make copies of the proposed charter available to the public.

(b) At least fourteen days prior to the election on the question of metro consolidation, the governing body of the affected county shall publish the proposed charter and provide notice of the election, as a Class II legal advertisement, in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county.

§7A-7-3. Election and ballots for metro government.

(a) After receiving the proposed charter from the metro charter review committee, the governing body of the affected county shall hold an election on the question of consolidation at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.

(b) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:

[ ] For

[ ] Against

§7A-7-4. Approval of metro government and charter.

If at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approve consolidation, then metro government becomes effective pursuant to the charter.

§7A-7-4a. Modifying the percentage vote required to approve metro government in municipal and countywide elections from fifty-five percent to a majority in counties with populations in excess of 150,000.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, where the election is on the question of consolidation of a county with a population exceeding 150,000, based on the 2000 or 2010 census of population taken under the authority of the United States government, and a single Class I city that is the principal municipality of the county, then metro government becomes effective pursuant to the charter if a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approves the consolidation.

(b) As used in this section, a Class I city is a municipality so classified under section three, article one, chapter eight of this code.

§7A-7-5. Rejection of charter and reconsideration process.

(a) If less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and less than fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approve consolidation, then consolidation is defeated. The metro charter review committee may reconvene for up to one year to adopt a second proposed charter.

(b) When the second proposed charter is adopted by the metro charter review committee, then the governing body of the affected county shall hold another election on the second proposed charter at the next primary or general election in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.

(c) The ballots for the election on the second proposed charter shall be as follows:

[ ] For

[ ] Against

(d) If the second proposed charter is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, excluding the principal city, then the proposed consolidation is defeated. A new metro charter review committee cannot be established for at least two years after the second proposed charter is defeated.

§7A-7-6. Municipalities within territory remain incorporated in metro government.

Municipalities, other than the principal city, are not automatically consolidated into the metro government. Upon the approval by voters of metro consolidation, municipalities within the territory of the metro government remain incorporated and continue to perform their functions as permitted by law unless dissolved or consolidated pursuant to section eight of this article.

§7A-7-7. Filing charter.

After the charter has been approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the affected county, the charter shall be filed with the Secretary of State and recorded in the applicable county clerk's offices.

§7A-7-8. Subsequent joining of municipality, county or metro government to metro government.

(a) After a metro government has been in existence for at least one year, a municipality, county or metro government may request to join the metro government by submitting:

(1) A petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters in the municipality, county or metro government; or

(2) A resolution by the governing body of the municipality, county or metro government.

(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the petition or resolution, the governing body of the metro government shall vote to accept or reject the municipality, county or metro government requesting to join.

(c) If the governing body of the metro government votes to accept the municipality, county or metro government, then the municipality, county or metro government shall hold an election on consolidation at the next primary or general election. The election shall be held in accordance with applicable election laws and section two of this article.

(d) The ballots for the election on consolidation shall be as follows:

[ ] For the

[ ] Against the

(e) If at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality, county or metro government approve consolidation, then consolidation becomes effective pursuant to the charter.

(f) If consolidation is not approved by at least fifty-five percent of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the municipality, county or metro government, then the consolidation is defeated and cannot be voted upon for one year.