NEW CARROLLTON                                      2353

the required number of registered voters. A minor variation in the signature of a
petitioner between his signature on a petition and that on the City voter
registration records shall not invalidate the signature. The invalidation of one
signature on a petition shall not serve to invalidate any others. If the petition fails
to contain the required number of valid signatures, as determined by the Board of
Elections, the petitioners may submit as an amendment to their original petition
the additional number of valid signatures to meet the requirements of this Section.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any ordinance, or part thereof,
levying property taxes for the payment of indebtedness, but the provisions of this
Section shall apply to any ordinance, or part thereof, levying benefit assessment
charges.

B.   EFFECT OF PETITION. No ordinance or resolution, or the part thereof
requested for referendum shall become effective following the receipt of such
petition until and unless approved at the election thereon by a majority of the
registered voters voting on the question, provided, however, that the total number
of votes cast in any special election shall equal at least twenty-five per cent (25%) of
the total number of votes cast in the last municipal general election. An emergency
ordinance, or the part thereof requested for referendum, shall continue in effect for
sixty (60) days following receipt of such petition. If the question of approval or
disapproval of any emergency ordinance, or any part thereof, has not been
submitted to a vote within sixty (60) days following receipt of the petition, then the
operation of the ordinance, or the part thereof requested for referendum shall be
suspended until approved by a majority of the registered voters voting on the
question at any election. Any ordinance or resolution, or part thereof, disapproved
by the voters shall stand repealed.

C.  ADVISORY REFERENDA. The Council, for its guidance, may provide for
advisory referendum questions at a regular or a special municipal election.

SECTION 20. INITIATIVE.

A.   PETITION. Fifteen per centum (15%) or more of the registered voters of
the City may initiate a proposed ordinance or a resolution by a petition presented
to the Board of Elections. The petition shall contain the complete and exact
wording of the proposed ordinance or resolution. Each person signing the petition
shall indicate thereon both his name and residence address. Upon receiving the
petition, the Board of Elections is directed to verify that it has been signed by the
required number of qualified voters, and shall consider the petition as of no effect
if it is signed by fewer than fifteen per centum (15%) of the registered voters of the
City. A minor variation in the signature of a petitioner between his signature on a
petition and that on the City voter registration records shall not invalidate his
signature. The invalidation of one signature on a petition shall not serve to
invalidate any others. If the petition fails to contain the required number of valid
signatures, as determined by the Board of Elections, the petitioners may submit as
an amendment to their original petition the additional number of valid signatures
to meet the requirements of this Section.

B.  EFFECT OF PETITION. If the petition complies with the requirements of
this Section, the Council shall, by resolution, passed as in its normal legislative
procedures, and not later than sixty days after the petition shall have been certified
as valid by the Board of Elections, specify the day and the hours for the election at
which the question shall be submitted to the voters of the City. This election, in the
discretion of the Council, may be the next annual general election or a special
election. If the question shall be submitted to the voters in a special election, the
total number of votes cast in the special election must equal at least twenty-five
per cent (25%) of the total votes cast in the last municipal general election. In the
event a special election is designated, it shall be within a period of not less than