West Virginia Code Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations § 8-4-1. Initiation of proceedings for framing a charter

(a) The governing body of a city may provide by ordinance for the submission to the qualified voters of the city at a general election or at a regular municipal election, or at a special municipal election if the governing body by the affirmative vote of two thirds of its members shall determine and specify that a special municipal election is necessary, of the question, “Shall a charter be framed by representatives of the people?”.

(b) The governing body of a city shall, upon petition therefor bearing the signatures, written in their own handwriting, of fifteen percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class I or Class II city, or ten percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class III city, provide by ordinance for the submission to the qualified voters of the city at a general election or at a regular municipal election of the question, “Shall a charter be framed by representatives of the people?”.

(c) The governing body of a city shall provide by ordinance for a special municipal election on said question if a petition bearing the signatures, written in their own handwriting, of fifteen percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class I or Class II city, or ten percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class III city, expressly requesting that a special municipal election be called for the purpose be presented to the governing body more than one hundred twenty days prior to the date of the next general election or next regular municipal election.

(d) If the question is to be submitted at a general election or a regular municipal election and not a special municipal election, then in determining the general election or regular municipal election at which the question shall be submitted, the following provisions of this subsection (d) shall govern and control:

(e) Any special municipal election held in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be held not less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the ordinance providing for same shall have been adopted, and any special municipal election held in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be held not less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the petition shall have been presented to the governing body.