After receipt of such a petition, the Secretary of State shall then issue to three or more persons residing in the area of such proposed municipality, a commission empowering them to (a) hold an election not less than twenty days nor more than ninety days after the issuance of the commission, and (b) appoint three managers of election who shall conduct such election. Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the community [or] by posting in three public places within the area sought to be incorporated which shall contain detailed information concerning the election. The notice shall be published or posted not less than five nor more than fifteen days before the date of the election.

At such election, all registered electors living in the area sought to be incorporated shall be allowed to vote on the following questions: (a) incorporation; (b) name of the municipality; (c) the form of government; (d) method of election as prescribed in Section 5-15-20; (e) whether the election shall be partisan or nonpartisan; and (f) the terms of the mayor and council members. When any of the above questions proposed in an election contain more than two options, the option receiving the highest number of votes will prevail.

Provided, however, that when any community votes in favor of incorporation pursuant to this section and selects a form of government in such election, notwithstanding the results of the selections made by the voters as to questions (d), (e) and (f) above, the initial governing body of the incorporated municipality shall consist of four council members and a mayor, all elected at large in a nonpartisan election for terms of two years.

The managers of election shall conduct the election, unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, according to the general law governing the conduct of special elections mutatis mutandi .