Section 257. Permissive referendum

1.  The  provisions  of sections one
  hundred one and one hundred two  of  this  chapter  and  the  applicable
  provisions   of  the  election  law  as  to  conduct  of  elections  and
  qualifications of voters shall apply to permissive  referenda  conducted
  hereunder,  except that only those electors shall be qualified to sign a
  petition and to vote who are resident within an  area  included  in  the
  proposed  county  district,  and  provided  further  that  the number of
  signatures required on the petition shall be one  hundred  or  five  per
  centum  of  the  owners  of  taxable  real  property situated within the
  proposed district, whichever shall be less.
    2. The clerk of the board of supervisors shall cause  to  be  prepared
  and  have  available for distribution proper forms for such petition and
  shall distribute a supply to any person requesting the same.
    3. Where there are no resident electors within an area included in the
  proposed  county  district,  the   referendum   may   be   waived   upon
  certification  by  the  county  board  of  elections  that  there are no
  qualified electors.