Voters of a township of the second class can vote to expand the board to five members. By contrast, townships of the first class elect a Board of Commissioners, either consisting of 5 at large members in townships without wards, or choosing one member from each ward (15 being the maximum number of wards permitted).
Voters in a second-class township can vote to increase the board size to five members. Conversely, townships of the first class select a Board of Commissioners: either by electing 5 at-large members in wards-less townships or choosing one member from each ward (with a maximum of 15 wards).