Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The charter of the town of Stoughton, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of theGeneral Laws, is hereby amended by striking out section 8-1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 8-1. Time of Elections.

Regular town elections for elective offices specified in this charter and for other elective offices as required by the General Laws shall be held 27 days before the annual town meeting. The polls shall not close before 8:00 p.m.

SECTION 2. This act shall be submitted to the voters of the town of Stoughton at an annual or special town election in the form of the following question which shall be placed on the official ballot to be used for the election of town officers "Shall an act passed by the general court in the year 1998, entitled 'An Act relative to the date of town elections in the town of Stoughton', be accepted?"

If a majority of the votes cast in answer to this question is in the affirmative, this act shall become effective, but not otherwise.