The mode of voting shall be by ballot, but the voter shall be left free to vote an open, sealed or secret ballot, as he may elect. The elections in said City shall be held and conducted and the result thereof certified, returned and finally determined under the laws in force in this State, relating to general elections, as they exist at the time any such election is being held, except that the persons conducting said elections shall, on the day after the election is held, deliver the ballots, tally sheets and poll books to the City Clerk, and thereafter the Common Council of said City shall meet on the sixth day succeeding said election and canvass the returns of said election, and declare the result thereof, and in all respects comply with the requirements of the statutes relating to general elections as they are in force at the time of holding said election. The corporate authorities of said City shall perform all the duties in relation to such election required by general law of county courts (county commissions) and officers in the general election laws of this State, and the provisions of Chapter 3 of the Code of West Virginia, in effect at the date of such election, concerning elections by the people, shall govern such elections and be applicable thereto, and the penalties therein prescribed for offenses relating to elections shall be enforced against the offenders at such corporate election; and the said general election laws shall have the same force and effect as if they were specially enacted for corporate elections and were by this Charter specially reenacted in extenso, except as modified in this amended Charter of the City of Philippi.
(Amended 4-20-1984)