Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 41201. Initiation of proceedings; ordinance; petition; question; election

(a) Whenever authorized by ordinance of the council, or upon petition of the registered voters of any city to the county board of elections of the county wherein the city is located, an election shall be held in the city upon the question: “Shall a charter commission of seven members (or any designated number up to and including fifteen) be elected to study the charter and form of government of the city of and to consider a new charter and to make recommendations thereon”. The petition calling for such election shall be in the form required by subsection (b) hereof, and shall be signed by at least fifteen per centum of the registered voters of the city.

Within five days after the final enactment of an ordinance authorizing such election, the city clerk shall file a certified copy of the ordinance with the county board of elections, together with a copy of the question to be submitted to the electors. At the next municipal or general election occurring not less than sixty days after the filing of the ordinance or the petition with the county election board, it shall cause the question above stated to be submitted to the electors of the city as other questions are submitted under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Election Code.  1

(b) A petition under this section shall be filed at least sixty-four days prior to the municipal or general election, and the petition and the proceedings therein shall be in the manner and subject to the provisions of the election laws which relate to the signing, filing and adjudication of nomination petitions in so far as such provisions are applicable, except that no petition shall be signed or circulated prior to thirty days before the last day on which such petition may be filed.