CHAPTER 117

An Act to provide for the submission of proposed amendments to Section
20 of the Constitution of Virginia to the qualified voters for ratifica-
tion or rejection, and to prescribe when and how such referendum
shall be had, and the manner in which the results thereof shall be as-
certained and certified, the returns canvassed, and the vote thereon
proclaimed by the Governor.

[H 117]

Approved February 26, 1962

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 sixty-two, 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 amendments to the Constitution of Virginia,
contained in the joint resolution proposing the said amendments to the
Constitution of Virginia, and directing a submission of said proposed
amendments to the people for their approval and ratification, to wit:

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Sec. 20 which is as follows:

ec. 20. Who may register.—Every citizen of the United States, hav-
ing the ‘qualifications of age and residence required in section eighteen,
shall be entitled to register, provided:

First. That he has personally paid to the proper officer all State poll
taxes legally assessed or assessable against him for the three years next
preceding that in which he offers to register; or, if he come of age at such
time that no poll tax shall have been assessable against him for the year
preceding the year in which he offers to register, has paid one dollar and
nity cents, in satisfaction of the first year’s poll tax assessable against

im; an

Second. That, unless physically unable, he make application to regis-
ter in his own handwriting, without aid, suggestion, or memorandum, in
the presence of the registration officer, stating therein his name, age, date
and place of birth, residence and occupation at the time and for the one
year next preceding, and whether he has previously voted, and, if so, the
State, county, and precinct in which he voted last; and

Third. That he answer on oath any and all questions affecting his
qualifications as an elector, submitted to him by the registration officer,
which questions, and his answers thereto, shall be reduced to writing, certi-
fied by the said officer, and preserved as a part of his official records.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

Sec. 20. Every citizen of the United States, having the qualifications
of age and residence required in section eighteen, shall be entitled to regis-
ter, provided:

First. That he has personally paid to the proper officer all State poll
taxes legally assessed or assessable against him for the three years next
preceding that in which he offers to register; or, if he come of age at
such time that no poll tax shall have been assessable against him for the
year preceding the year in which he offers to register, has paid one dollar
and ay cents, in satisfaction of the first year’s poll tax assessable against
im; and,
Second. That, unless physically unable, he make application to regis-
ter in his own handwriting, on a form which may be provided by the regis-
tration officer, without aid, suggestion, or other memorandum, in the
presence of the registration officer, stating therein his name, age, date and
place of birth, residence and occupation at the time and for the one year
next preceding, and whether he has previously voted, and, if so, the State,
county, and precinct in which he voted last; and,
Third. That he answer on oath any and all questions affecting his
qualifications as an elector, submitted to him by the registration officer,
which questions, and his answers thereto, shall be reduced to writing,
certified by the said officer, and preserved as a part of his official records.

SCHEDULE

At such election a ballot shall be furnished each voter which shall have
printed thereon the following: oo

Question: Shall section twenty of the Constitution of Virginia be
amended so as to provide that an applicant for registration in order to
vote shall make application to register on a form which may be provided
by the registration officer?

For

[] 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 clerk and commissioners
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 canvass
the said abstracts of returns, and to examine and make statement of the
whole number of votes given at said election for said proposed amendment
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 state-
ment in its office, and without delay to make out and transmit to the Gov-
ernor of the Commonwealth an official copy of said statement, certified by
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 ratifi-
cation 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 or ser-
geants of their respective counties and cities for distribution. Each such
sheriff or sergeant shall forthwith post a copy of such act at some public
piace in each election district at or near the usual voting place in the said

is .

The expenses incurred in conducting this election shall be defrayed

as in the case of the election of members of the General Assembly.