Chap. 18.—An ACT to amend and reenact Chapter 225 of the Acts of Assembly of
1940, approved March 16, 1940, as amended, relating to general registrars in
certain counties. [H 69]

Approved February 17, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: .

1. That chapter two hundred twenty-five of the Acts of As-
sembly of nineteen hundred forty, approved March sixteen, nineteen
hundred forty, be amended and reenacted as follows:

In any county having an area of more than forty and less than
fifty-five square miles of high land as hereinafter defined, and in
any county having an area of not less than three hundred sixty-five
nor more than three hundred sixty-eight square miles, and in any
county having an area of not less than three hundred ninety-six nor
more than four hundred twelve square miles and having within its
boundaries a city of more than ten thousand population, the govern-
ing body of such county may, in its discretion, in the month of May
of any year, provide by resolution for the creation of the office of
general registrar for such county. Upon receipt of a certified copy
of such resolution by the county electoral board, it shall within
thirty days thereafter appoint such general registrar, who shall be
a discreet citizen, a qualified voter, and resident of the county for
which he is appointed, and shall possess the qualifications prescribed
by law for registrars. The board of supervisors or other governing
body of such county shall furnish such general registrar with a
suitable office, furniture and equipment, prescribe his office hours,
and fix his compensation. Any such general registrar so appointed
shall hold office for two years from the first day of July next follow-
ing his appointment, and until his successor shall be duly elected
and qualified.

The appointment of such general registrar shall automatically
abolish the office of registrar for each and all of the election districts
of such county as provided by law, as of the date of qualification of
said general registrar, and each and every such district registrar
shall thereupon promptly deliver to the said general registrar all the
books, papers and documents pertaining to their offices.

For the purposes of this act, high land means the land in such
county, above the low water line or mark of waters within and
adjacent to the boundaries of said county.

Such general registrar shall, before entering upon the duties
of his office, take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by law
for registrars. His power and duties shall be similar to the power
and duties prescribed by general law for registrars; and all books,
papers and documents belonging to the office of the general registrar
shall be public records and open for inspection during reasonable
hours, provided, however, he shall post in each election district in
his county, the notices required by general law to be posted by
registrars in their respective election districts.

2. An emergency exists and this act shall be in force from its
passage.