The question of the adoption of such law shall be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality or county at the next general election succeeding the passage thereof unless the same shall be passed within twenty-five days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be submitted at the next succeeding general election, in the case of a county, or the next succeeding general or municipal election, whichever shall occur first, in the case of a municipality.
N.J.S. § 1:6-18