§ 257. Permissive referendum. 1. The provisions of sections one hundred one and one hundred two of this chapter and the applicable provisions of the election law as to conduct of elections and qualifications of voters shall apply to permissive referenda conducted hereunder, except that only those electors shall be qualified to sign a petition and to vote who are resident within an area included in the proposed county district, and provided further that the number of signatures required on the petition shall be one hundred or five per centum of the owners of taxable real property situated within the proposed district, whichever shall be less.

2. The clerk of the board of supervisors shall cause to be prepared and have available for distribution proper forms for such petition and shall distribute a supply to any person requesting the same.

3. Where there are no resident electors within an area included in the proposed county district, the referendum may be waived upon certification by the county board of elections that there are no qualified electors.