(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the electors of each township shall elect three supervisors, three auditors and one tax collector. No person shall at the same time hold more than one elective township office.

(b) Upon petition of at least five percent of the electors of the township or under a resolution of the board of supervisors and upon approval by a majority of those electors voting at the next municipal or general election, there shall be elected two additional supervisors. The referendum petition or resolution of the board of supervisors certified by the township secretary shall be filed with the county board of elections not later than the thirteenth Tuesday before the next municipal or general election. The county board of elections shall place the question before the electors as provided under the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L. 1333, No. 320),¹ known as the “Pennsylvania Election Code.” The form of the question shall be as follows:

The county board of elections shall tabulate and publish the results of the referendum within thirty days of the election. The total number of supervisors shall not exceed five. In no event shall the question of additional supervisors be voted on more than once in any three-year period.

(c) At the first municipal election following approval at a general election of the question providing for the election of two additional supervisors, one of the additional supervisors shall be elected for a term of four years and one for a term of six years, each to serve from the first Monday of January after the election. At the first general election following approval at a municipal election of the question providing for the election of two additional supervisors, one of the additional supervisors shall be elected for a term of three years and one for a term of five years, each to serve from the first Monday of January after the election. After that time, the additional supervisors shall be elected for terms of six years each to serve from the first Monday of January after the election.

(d) In townships in which the electorate has opted for a five-member board, the township shall return to a three-member board of supervisors upon petition of at least five percent of the electors of the township, or under a resolution of the board of supervisors, and upon approval by a majority of electors voting at the next municipal or general election. The referendum petition shall be filed with the county board of elections not later than the thirteenth Tuesday before the next municipal or general election. The county board of elections shall place the question before the electors as provided under the “Pennsylvania Election Code.” The form of the question shall be as follows:

The county board of elections shall tabulate and publish the results of the referendum within thirty days of the election. In no event shall the question of reducing the five-member board of supervisors be voted on more than once in any five-year period.

(e) At the first municipal election following approval of the question providing for a return to a three-member board, three supervisors shall be elected to serve from the first Monday of January after the election, when the terms of the officers of the five-member board of supervisors shall cease. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the office of supervisor shall be elected. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of six years. The candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve for a term of four years. The candidate receiving the third highest number of votes shall serve for a term of two years. After that, supervisors shall be elected under section 403.²