CHAPTER 371

An Act to provide for the submission of a proposed amendment to § 169
of the Constitution of Virginia to the qualified voters for ratification
or rejection, and to prescribe when and how such referendum shall
be had, and the manner in which the results thereof shall be ascer-
tained and certified, the returns canvassed, and the vote thereon pro-
claimed by the Governor.

{H 510]

Approved March 14, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. It shall be the duty of the officers conducting the election directed by
law to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, nine-
teen hundred fifty-six, at the places appointed for holding the same, to
open a poll and take the sense of the qualified voters upon the ratification
or rejection of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Virginia,
contained in the joint resolution proposing the said amendment to the
Constitution of Virginia, and directing a submission of said proposed
amendment to the people for their approval and ratification, to wit:

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Section one hundred sixty-.
nine, which is as follows:

§ 169. Except as hereafter provided, all assessments of real estate
and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value, to be
ascertained as prescribed by law. So long as the State shall levy upon any
public service corporation, other than a railway or a canal corporation,
a State franchise, license, or other tax, based upon or measured by its
gross receipts, or gross earnings, or any part thereof, its real estate and
tangible personal property shall be assessed by the State Corporation Com-
mission, or other central State agency, in the manner prescribed by law.
The General Assembly may allow a lower rate of taxation to be imposed
for a period of years by a city or town upon land added to its corporate
limits, than is imposed on similar property within its limits at the time
such land is added.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

§ 169. Except as hereafter provided, all assessments of real estate
and tangible personal property shall be at their fair market value, to be
ascertained as prescribed by law. So long as the State shall levy upon any
public service corporation, other than a railway or a canal corporation,
a State franchise, license, or other tax, based upon or measured by its
gross receipts, or gross earnings, or any part thereof, its real estate and
tangible personal property shall be assessed by the State Corporation
Commission, or other central State agency, in the manner prescribed by
law. The General Assembly may allow a lower rate of taxation to be
imposed for a period of years by a city or town upon land added to its
corporate limits, than is imposed on similar property within its limits at
the time such land is added. The General Assembly may define as a
separate subject of taxation household goods and personal effects and may
allow the governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns to exempt or
partially exempt such property from taxation.
Schedule

At such election a ballot shall be furnished each voter which shall
have printed thereon the following: oa.
uestion: Shall Section one hundred sixty-nine of the Constitution
of Virginia be amended so as to permit the governing bodies of counties,
cities and towns, with the consent of the General Assembly to exempt or
partially exempt household goods and personal effects from taxation?

OJ For

q Against

The ballot shall be prepared, distributed and voted, and the results
thereof ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24-141
of the Code of Virginia. It shall be the duty of the clerks and commis-
sioners of election of each county and city, respectively, to make out,
certify and forward an abstract of the votes cast for and against said
proposed amendment in the manner now prescribed by law in relation
to votes cast in general elections.

It shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections to open and can
vass the said abstracts of returns, and to examine and make statement of
the whole number of votes given at said election for said proposed amend-
ment and against said proposed amendment, respectively, in the manner
now prescribed by law in relation to votes cast in general elections; and
it shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections to record said certified
statement in its office, and without delay to make out and transmit to the
Sovernuy of the Commonwealth an official copy of said statement, certified

y it.

The Governor shall, without delay, make proclamation of the result,
stating therein the aggregate vote for and against said amendment, to be
published in such newspapers in the State as may be deemed requisite
for general information; and if a majority of said votes be cast for the
ratification of the amendment, he shall annex to his proclamation a copy
thereof. The State Board of Elections shall cause to be sent to the clerks
of each county and corporation, at least thirty days before the election,
as many copies of this act as there are places of voting therein; and it
shall be the duty of such clerks to forthwith deliver the same to the
sheriffs of their respective counties and cities for distribution. Each such
sheriff shall forthwith post a copy of such act at some public place in each
election district at or near the usual voting place in the said district.

The expenses incurred in conducting this election shall be defrayed
as in the case of the election of members of the General Assembly.