Chap. 121.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 175 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to trial of challenge of right to vote, and declaring an emergency.
{H 10]

Approved March 3, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section one hundred seventy-five of the Code of Virginia
be amended and re-enacted, as follows:

Section 175. How Challenge Tried—When any person is so chal-
lenged the judges shall explain to him the qualifications of an elector,
and may examine him as to the same; and if the person insists that he
is qualified, and the challenge is not withdrawn, one of the judges shall
tender to him the following oath: **You do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that you are a citizen of the United States, that you are twenty-one years
old, that you have resided in this State for one year, in this county, city,
or town for six months, and in this precinct thirty days next preceding
this election; and that you are, according to the best of your knowledge,
information and belief, not disqualified from voting by the Constitution
or laws of this State; that your name is (here insert the name given) ;
that in such name you were duly registered as a voter of this precinct;
that you are now or within the past thirty days have been an actual resi-
dent of the same; that you are the identical person you represent your-
self to be; and that you have not voted in this election at this or any
voting place. So help you God.” If he refuse to take such oath his vote
shall be rejected; 1f, however, he does take it, his vote shall be received,
unless the judges be satisfied, from record or other legal evidence adduced
before them, or from their own knowledge that he is not a qualified voter,
in which case they may refuse to permit such person to vote. And they
are hereby authorized to administer the necessary oaths or affirmations
to all witnesses brought before them to testify as to the qualifications of
any person offering to vote. When the vote of any person shall be re-
ceived, after having taken the oath prescribed in this section, it shall be
the duty of the clerks of election to write on the poll books, at the end
of the name of such person, the word “‘sworn”’.
2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.