{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8-4-4","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 8-4-4","heading":"Submission of proposed charter to qualified voters.","body":"The proposed charter shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city in like fashion and with like notice as provided for a proposed charter of a newly incorporated city as set forth in article three of this chapter, except that the proposed charter shall be submitted at the next regular municipal election instead of a special election, unless (1) the governing body by the affirmative vote of two thirds of its members shall determine and specify that a special municipal election is necessary, or (2) a petition bearing the signatures, written in their own handwriting, of fifteen percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class I or Class II city, or ten percent of the qualified voters of the city, if a Class III city, expressly requesting that a special municipal election be called for the purpose be presented to the governing body more than one hundred twenty days prior to the date of the next regular municipal election.","path":["CHAPTER 8. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.","ARTICLE 4. FRAMING AND ADOPTING A CHARTER OTHER THAN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INCORPORATION; REVISING OR AMENDING A CHARTER; ELECTIONS AND EXPENSES."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/8-4-4/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:20:44Z","sha256":"ae551edbcfdc81000dc0770e5eb779acf78c23117bc8db5e3d5ad776390743e7","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8-4-3","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-8-4-5"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}