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The governing bodies of the municipalities wanting to merge may pass a joint resolution, or joint ordinance in the case of a proposed merger involving a home rule municipality, requesting a referendum in the municipalities to approve or disapprove a merger. The resolution must be passed by each of the governing bodies by a majority vote of the members to which the body is entitled. The resolution shall list the municipalities seeking to merge and state the name of the proposed consolidated municipality and under which charter it will operate: mayor-aldermanic, chapter 1 of this title; city manager-commission, chapter 18 of this title; or one (1) of the charters of the merging municipalities. The resolution may establish wards or districts for the consolidated municipality if the charter provides for wards or districts. A copy of the resolution, certified by the record keeper of each municipality, shall be forwarded to the county election commission or commissions if more than one (1) county is involved.
Upon receipt of the resolution, the county election commission or commissions shall call an election on the question of the merger in the municipalities as provided in the general election law. The election shall be held on the same day in each municipality. The question to be voted on shall appear on the ballot in substantially the following form:
Shall the of and the of merge and become one (1) municipality?
YES NO
If one (1) of the municipalities seeking to merge is a home rule municipality pursuant to the Constitution of Tennessee, article XI, § 9, all references in this section to “resolution” shall be deemed a reference to “ordinance.” The ordinance must indicate whether the non-home rule municipality wishes to adopt home rule and whether the home rule municipality wishes to abandon home rule. If the municipalities seeking to merge wish to adopt the home rule charter, the question appearing on the ballot in the non-home rule municipality shall be:
Shall this municipality adopt home rule and merge with the of and become one (1) municipality?
YES NO
If, on the other hand, the municipalities seeking to merge do not wish to adopt the home rule charter, the question appearing on the ballot in the home rule municipality shall be:
Shall this municipality abandon home rule and merge with the of and become one (1) municipality?
YES NO
If a majority of those voting in each municipality votes yes, the municipalities shall merge and become one (1) municipality one hundred twenty (120) days after the certification of the election results. If a majority of those voting in either municipality votes no, the municipalities shall remain separate entities.
Notwithstanding any restrictions or requirements of the charter of the consolidated municipality, during the one-hundred-twenty-day period after approval of a merger, but before it takes effect, the election commission or commissions shall call an election in the area of the consolidated municipality to elect the officials who are chosen by popular vote under the charter of the consolidated municipality. These officials shall take office on the date the merger takes effect and will serve in accordance with the charter.