17-43. a. Any ordinance to be voted on by the voters in accordance with section 17-36 or section 17-42 of this act (C. 40:69A-185 or C. 40:69A-191) shall be submitted at the next general or regular municipal election occurring not less than 40 days after the final date for withdrawal of the petition as provided for in section 17-42 of this act (C. 40:69A-191), provided that if no such election is to be held within 90 days the council shall provide for a special election to be held not less than 40 nor more than 60 days from the final date for withdrawal of the petition as provided for in section 17-42 (C. 40:69A-191) of this act.

b. In the case of an initiated petition signed by not less than 10% nor more than 15% of the legal voters, the ordinance shall be submitted at the next general or regular municipal election occurring not less than 40 days after the final date of withdrawal of the petition as provided for in section 17-42 (C. 40:69A-191) of this act.

c. In any instance where a referendum election is to be held as a result of an ordinance of the council which by its terms or by law cannot become effective in the municipality unless submitted to the voters, or which by its terms authorizes a referendum in the municipality concerning the subject matter thereof, the time for submission of the question to the voters shall be at the next general or regular municipal election occurring not less than 40 days from the date of final passage and approval of the ordinance. Referenda held on ordinances adopted pursuant to sections 7 through 11 of P.L.1981, c.465 (C. 40:69A-25.1 through 40:69A-25.5) shall be governed by this subsection, except that if the referendum is held pursuant to those sections as the result of the report of a charter study commission, the time for submission of the question shall be calculated from the date of that report.

d. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to waive the requirement for the ballot question to be submitted to the county clerk 74 days prior to the general election as required by section 22 of P.L.2023, c.124 (C. 40A:14-72).

L.1950,c.210,s.17-43; amended 1982,c.145,s.4; 1991,c.430,s.5; 2023, c.124, s.21.