(1) If the territory to be affected by a proposed incorporation, consolidation, or change of boundaries is situated in more than 1 county, the petition under section 6 shall be addressed and presented to the secretary of state. The petition shall be accompanied by 1 or more affidavits by 1 or more of the signers of the petition showing all of the following:

    (a) That the statements contained in the petition are true.

    (b) That each signature affixed to the petition is the actual signature of a qualified elector residing in a city, village, or township to be affected by the carrying out of the purposes of the petition.

    (c) That not less than 25 of the petition signers reside in each city, village, or township to be affected.

    (2) The secretary of state shall examine the petition and the accompanying affidavit or affidavits. If the secretary of state finds that the petition and accompanying affidavit or affidavits comply with the requirements of this act, he or she shall so certify and shall transmit the certificate and a certified copy of the petition and the accompanying affidavit or affidavits to the clerk of each city, village, or township to be affected by the proposal, together with a notice directing that the question of making the incorporation, consolidation, or change of boundaries petitioned for shall be submitted to the electors of the district to be affected. The notice shall provide that the question shall be submitted at the next general election or at an election before the next general election. However, the question shall not be submitted at an election to be held less than 60 days after the date of transmittal of the certificate.

    (3) If the secretary of state finds that the petition and the accompanying affidavit or affidavits do not comply with the requirements of this act, he or she shall certify to that fact and shall return the petition and affidavits to the person from whom they were received, along with the certificate.

    (4) The city, village, and township clerks who receive from the secretary of state the copies and certificates provided for in subsection (2) shall give notice of the election to be held on the question of making the proposed incorporation, consolidation, or change of boundaries as provided for in section 10.