(a) General rule.--A governmental study commission of seven, nine or eleven members, as designated in the question, shall be elected by the qualified voters at the same election the question is submitted to the electors.

(b) Nomination of candidates.--Each candidate for the office of member of the commission shall be nominated and placed upon the ballot containing the question in the manner provided by and subject to the provisions of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, which relate to the nomination of a candidate nominated by nomination papers filed for other offices elective by the voters. Each candidate shall be nominated and listed without any political designation or slogan, and no nomination paper shall be signed or circulated prior to the 13th Tuesday before the election nor later than the tenth Tuesday before the election. No signature shall be counted unless it bears a date within this period.

(c) Instructions to electors.--Each elector shall be instructed to vote on the question and, regardless of the manner of his vote on the question, to vote for the designated number of members of a government study commission who shall serve if the question is or has been determined in the affirmative.

(d) Insufficient number of candidates or members.--If an insufficient number of nominating papers is filed to fill all of the designated positions on the study commission, the question of establishing a commission shall be placed on the ballot, and, unless a sufficient number of study commission members are elected by receiving at least as many votes as signatures are required to file a nominating position, then the question of creating a study commission shall be deemed to have been rejected.