Prior to the issuance of said bonds, the board of county commissioners shall by resolution set out the amount and purpose for which said bonds are to be issued and publish said resolution once in the official county newspaper. Such bonds shall not be issued if within sixty (60) days after the publication of said notice a petition or petitions shall be filed with the county election officer signed by at least five percent (5%) of the qualified electors of each of the commissioner districts of said county protesting the issuance of such bonds. In determining the sufficiency of such protest or the number of voters required to sign said protesting petition or petitions, the total vote cast in such commissioner districts for secretary of state at the last general election shall be used as a basis. In the event that such petitions are filed, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to submit the question of the issuance of such bonds to the qualified electors of such county at a special election called for such purpose or at the next general election. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided by the general bond law.