When two or more contiguous and adjoining counties shall, by the boards of chosen freeholders thereof, so resolve to construct and maintain a district welfare-house jointly in lieu of a county welfare-house and municipal almshouses, which in such case shall be abolished except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the resolution shall at the next general election be submitted to the legal voters of each county, excepting the voters in municipalities which maintain their permanent poor in institutions and have, as authorized in section 44:1-61 of this title, elected not to participate. Public notice thereof shall be given by the boards of chosen freeholders by publication not less than thirty days prior to the election in a newspaper published and circulating in the county seat of each of the counties.