If the Charter Commission shall propose a new Charter or the amendment
of a Home Rule Charter which was adopted by the people under the Constitution,
it shall be the duty of the Council by resolution to cause the question of
the acceptance or rejection of the Charter or amendments to be submitted to
the electors of the Town at the time and in the manner provided by the Constitution.
At any election at which a Charter or the amendment of a Charter shall
be submitted to the electors, it shall not be necessary to place upon the
ballot the full text of such Charter or amendment, and any description or
digest thereof which substantially expresses the intent and identifies the
subject matter to be voted upon shall be sufficient.
If a new Charter is proposed, the question shall be "Shall the
Home Rule Charter of the Town of Westerly be adopted?" If an amendment
to a Home Rule Charter is proposed, the Town Council shall prescribe the statement
of the question in the resolution providing for the referendum.
The provisions of the home rule amendment to the Constitution shall
constitute sufficient authority and direction to the Secretary of State for
the preparation of ballot labels to be used in the election for submission
of the question, if submitted at an election at which voting machines are
used.
If a majority of the electors of the Town voting upon the question shall
vote in the affirmative, the Charter shall be adopted and shall take effect
according to its terms.
In the event that there shall be submitted to the electors two conflicting
Charter provisions or amendments, both of which are approved at the same election
by a majority of the total number of votes cast for and against the same,
the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall be adopted.
A voter may vote in the affirmative for each such conflicting provision, and
the votes shall be counted in each case.
The canvassing authority shall notify the Secretary of State of the
result of the election and the number of votes cast for and against the Charter
or any amendment thereof.
Any Charter adopted by the people pursuant to the Constitution may be
amended in the manner herein provided for the adoption of a Charter or in
any other manner provided by the Constitution.
After any vote upon a proposed Charter or amendment to a Charter, it
shall be conclusive that there has been compliance with all the provisions
of this chapter.
