(a) After a copy of the proposed charter has been certified to the county election commission and the proposed charter has been, in all respects, qualified to be submitted to the voters of the principal city and to the voters of the county outside the principal city, including any smaller city or cities, as provided in § 7-21-204, and, if applicable, to the voters of any smaller city or cities electing to proceed in accordance with § 7-21-204(c)(2), it is the duty of the county election commission to hold a referendum election for the ratification or rejection of the proposed charter and additional question, if applicable, at such regular county, state or federal election as shall be designated in the proposed charter.

(b) The ballots used in the election shall have printed on them a brief summary of the proposed charter as required by § 2-5-208(f). The ballots shall be prepared so as to provide a choice for voters as follows:

(c) Notice of the referendum election shall be given as required in other elections on questions submitted to the vote of the people.

(d) The date of the election and the form of the ballot shall be uniform throughout the entire county on the issue as to whether there shall be a unified government between the principal city and the area within the county outside of the principal city, including any smaller cities within the county; provided, that the county election commission shall canvass the returns and certify the results as if separate elections were being held for the principal city and the area of the county outside of the principal city, including any smaller cities within the county. For the purpose of determining whether the proposed charter has been accepted or rejected, the county election commission shall canvass the returns and certify the results for:

(1) The principal city;

(2) The entire area of the county outside the principal city, including in such area the smaller cities, if any, within the county; and

(3) Any smaller city that has elected to include the additional question provided in § 7-21-204(c)(2) on the ballots for the voters of such smaller city.

(e) The proposed charter shall be deemed ratified and adopted if the same is approved by a majority of those voting within the principal city and a majority of those voting in the county outside the principal city. Any smaller city, if applicable, shall be included in the unified government only if inclusion is approved by majority vote of those voting within the smaller city.

(f) The returns of the referendum election shall be certified by the county election commission to the secretary of state, together with a copy of the charter previously filed with the county election commission by the county clerk.

(g) The secretary of state shall then issue a proclamation showing the result of the election on the adoption or rejection of the proposed charter, and the inclusion, if applicable, of any smaller city, one (1) copy of which proclamation shall be attached to the copy of the charter certified to the secretary of state and one (1) copy of which shall be delivered to the county clerk, who shall attach the proclamation to the remaining copy of the proposed charter certified to the county clerk.

(h) Whenever a unified government charter has been adopted, the two (2) certified copies with proclamations attached shall be deemed duplicate original copies of the charter of such government.

(i) The certified copy of the charter and proclamation deposited with the county clerk shall subsequently be delivered by the county clerk to such officer of the unified government as the charter may direct.