Subdivision 1. Petition.
Upon receipt of a petition signed by 30 percent of the persons voting at the last city election or 200 registered voters residing in the city, whichever is less, a statutory city or home rule charter city of the fourth class shall place before the voters of the city the question of whether the city will issue intoxicating liquor licenses.
Subd. 2. Ballot question.
The form of the question of the referendum under this section must be either "Shall the city issue ... intoxicating liquor licenses?" or "Shall the city discontinue issuing intoxicating liquor licenses?".
Subd. 3. Effect of election results.
If a majority of persons voting on the referendum question vote to discontinue issuing licenses, the city may not issue intoxicating liquor licenses until the results of the referendum have been reversed at a subsequent election where the question has been submitted as provided in this section.
Subd. 4. Certification.
The clerk or recorder must certify results of a referendum held under this section within ten days of the election.
Subd. 5. Challenge of election.
Where the results of a referendum under this section are challenged by any voter, the county attorney of the county where the election was held must appear in defense of the validity of the election.