Whenever a petition praying for the change of name of any municipality and specifying the name proposed for adoption shall be signed by at least 30% of the legal voters therein who voted at the last preceding general election, and be filed in the office of the clerk of such municipality, such proposed change of name shall be submitted to the voters at the first general election occurring in such municipality not less than 60 days after the filing of such petition, or at a special election, as shall be determined by resolution of the governing body, to be held in the municipality not less than 60 days after the filing of such petition. The clerk of such municipality shall advertise that said change of name will be voted upon at such election in the same manner as municipal elections are advertised, and the question of the change of name shall be printed upon the ballots and voted upon at such election in accordance with the general laws relating to elections, except that the governing body may conduct a special election at the same hours and polling places used in the most recent school election held in accordance with N.J.S. 18A:14-1 et seq.

Amended by L.1981, c. 169, s. 1, eff. June 18, 1981.