The county board of elections shall make return of the vote cast on the question as provided by law. If at such election the electors have voted against retaining the existing classification or have voted in favor of adopting the commission form of government or have voted in favor of adopting one of the optional forms of government provided in the Optional Third Class City Charter Law¹, the city shall become a city of the third class and shall be governed under the appropriate provisions of the third class city code or the Optional Third Class City Charter Law. The transition to a new form of government shall take effect as provided in the Optional Third Class City Charter Law or in the third class city code, as the case may be.

Whenever by the return of any such election it shall appear that a majority favor retention of existing classification or there is a majority against the different form of city government recommended by the charter commission, the city shall retain its existing classification, and it shall be unlawful to hold another election on the question in such city within a period of five years.