When a majority of the legal voters, residing upon any territory, not less than half of one congressional township, shall petition the county board of their own county, and also of the county to which they desire such territory to be transferred, for leave to have such territory transferred to such county, it shall be the duty of the several county boards so petitioned to certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question at a referendum in their respective counties in accordance with the general election law.