(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, where the election is on the question of consolidation of a county with a population exceeding 150,000, based on the 2000 or 2010 census of population taken under the authority of the United States government, and a single Class I city that is the principal municipality of the county, then metro government becomes effective pursuant to the charter if a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of the principal city and a majority of the legal votes cast by the qualified voters of all incorporated and unincorporated areas of the affected county, excluding the principal city, approves the consolidation.(b) As used in this section, a Class I city is a municipality so classified under section three, article one, chapter eight of this code.
West Virginia Legal Code