Upon written petition of not less than 2 percent of the legal voters of any town, addressed and delivered to the selectmen not later than 35 days before any annual meeting, the following question, as requested in the application, shall be submitted to the voters at the meeting: “Are you in favor of a 3-man board of assessors to be the legal assessing authority for the town?” In towns having an official ballot the question shall appear upon the ballot, in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 59:12-a. In towns where no official ballot is used, the vote on this question shall be by special ballot. After the question, squares with the words “yes” and “no” shall be printed on the ballot in which the voter may mark his choice, in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 59:12-a.