CHAPTER 95

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 15-48 and 15-45 of the Code of Virginia,
relating to removal of courthouses in counties, elections thereon, certifi-
cation of results thereof, and acquisition of land and erection of build-

ings.
(S B 80]
Approved February 22, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 15-43 and 15-45 of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 15-43. Whenever one-third of the qualified voters of any county, of
whom at least one-half must be freeholders, shall, in term time or vacation,
petition the judge of the circuit court of such county or whenever the gov-
erning body of any county by resolution duly adopted, request the judge
of the circuit court of such county for a special election in such county
on the question of the removal of the courthouse to one or more places
specified in the petition or resolution which shall also state the amount
to be appropriated by the board of supervisors for the purchase of land,
unless the same shall be donated, and for the erection of the necessary
buildings and improvements at the new location, such court or judge
shall, within ten days after the receipt of the petition or resolution, issue
a writ of election in which shall be fixed the day of holding such election
directed to the sheriff of the county whose duty it shall be forthwith to
post a notice of the election at each voting precinct in the county. He shall
also give notice to the officers charged with the duty of conducting other
elections in the county; but no election shall be held under this and the
eleven following sections within thirty days of the posting of such notices
as aforesaid.

§ 15-45. If it shall appear from the abstracts and returns that a
majority of the votes cast and a majority of the freeholders voting at such
election, or a plurality should there be more than two places voted for, are
for the removal of the courthouse to one of the places specified in the peti-
tion or resolution, the result shall be certified to the board of supervisors
CHS. 95, 96, 97] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 103

of the county, with the amount authorized to be expended for land, if not
donated, and for necessary buildings and improvements. If the vote shall
be for removal the board of supervisors shall at once proceed to acquire
the necessary land at the new location, if the same has not been donated,
and to erect the necessary buildings and improvements.