of a petition signed by five per cent of the qualified voters of the
county or by ten thousand voters, whichever is less. If additional
charter board members are nominated by petitions signed by
three per cent of the qualified voters of the county or by three
thousand voters, whichever is less, which shall be delivered to the
board of county commissioners within sixty days after the char-
ter board shall have been appointed, then the board of county
commissioners shall call a special election not less than thirty
nor more than ninety days after receipt of the petitions unless a
regular election falls within the designated period. The appointees
of the board of county commissioners and those nominated by
petitions shall be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order with-
out party designation. The voters shall be entitled to cast votes
for, and elect, a number of nominees equal to the number of char-
ter board members originally selected by the board of county
commissioners and those so elected shall constitute the charter
board. The charter board shall be responsible for drafting the
instrument of government. Such charter board shall, within
twelve months from the date of its appointment or in the event of
an election within twelve months from the date of that election,
present an instrument of government for the county to the board
of county commissioners, who shall publish the same in at least
two newspapers of general circulation published in the county
within thirty days after it shall have been presented. Such instru-
ment of government shall be submitted to the voters of the county
at a special or regular election held not earlier than thirty days,
nor later than ninety days, after publication of the instrument of
government. If a majority of the votes cast for and against the
adoption of the instrument of government shall be in favor of
adoption, then such instrument of government shall, on the
thirtieth day after such election, become effective as the instru-
ment of government of that county, and any laws applying only to
that county which are inconsistent with the instrument of govern-
ment, shall be thereby repealed. Prior to the effective date of sec-
tion 7.04 of the Constitution, all counties having an instrument
of government shall exercise only those express powers prescribed
by the General Assembly by law.
The effect of this section shall terminate on July 1, 1970.

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