CHAPTER 367

An Act to provide for the submission of proposed amendments to Sections
148, 145 and 146 of Article X 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 ascertained and certified, the returns canvassed,
and the vote thereon proclaimed by the Governor. 5 2921

[

Approved April 1, 1966

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, nineteen
hundred sixty-six, at the places appointed for holding the same, to open &
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 proposec
amendments to the people for their approval and ratification, to wit:

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Section 148 of Article X
thereof, which is as follows:

Section 143. There shall be a Department of Agriculture and Immi-
gration, which shall be permanently maintained at the capital of the State,
and which shall be under the management and control of a Board of Agri-
culture and Immigration, composed of one member from each congressional
district, who shall be a practical farmer, appointed by the Governor for a
term of four years, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and the president
a the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, who shall be ex officio member of

e board.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

Section 148. There shal] be a Department of Agriculture and Com-
merce, which shall be permanently maintained at the capital of the State,
and which shall be under the management and control of a Board of
Agriculture and Commerce, composed of one member from each congres-
sional district, at least five of whom shall be practical farmers, appointed
by the Governor for a term of four years, subject to confirmation by the
Senate, and the president of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, who shall
be ex officio member of the board.

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Section 145 of Article X
thereof, which is as follows:

Section 145. A Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration shal)
be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General
Assembly, for a term coincident with that of each Governor making the
appointment; provided, however, that the first appointment under this
section, as hereby amended, shall not be made until the expiration of the
term of office of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration, which
began February first, nineteen hundred and twenty-six; and provided,
further, that the General Assembly shall have power, by statute enacted
after January first, nineteen hundred and thirty-two, to provide for the
election or appointment of a Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration
in such manner and for such terms as may be prescribed by statute. No
Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration shall] be elected at the gen-
eral election to be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in
November, nineteen hundred and twenty-nine. The powers and duties of
an Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration shall be prescribed by

W.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

Section 145. A Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce shal]
be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General

mbly, for a term coincident with that of each Governor making
the appointment; provided, however, that the General Assembly shall have
power, by statute enacted after January first, nineteen hundred and thirty-
two to provide for the election or appointment of a Commissioner of Agri-
culture and Commerce in such manner and for such terms as may be pre-
scribed by statute. The powers and duties of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture and Commerce shall be prescribed by law.

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Section 146 of Article X
thereof, which is as follows:

_ Section 146. The President of the Board of Agriculture and Immigra-
tion shall be ex officio a member of the board of visitors of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:
ine er) rete The president of the peaks of egricultare | and Com-

ex officio a member of the board of visitors of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute. e
SCHEDULE

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

Question: Shall sections one hundred forty-three, one hundred forty-
five and one hundred forty-six of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia
be amended so as to change the names of the present Department of
Agriculture and Immigration, Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigra-
tion and Board of Agriculture and Immigration to the Department of
Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce
and Board of Agriculture and Commerce, respectively, and to provide for
at least bi practical farmers as members of such Board?

or

[1] 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 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 amendments
and against said proposed amendments, 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 amendments, to
be published in such newspapers in the State as may to deemed requisite
for general information; and if a majority of said votes be cast for the
ratification of the amendments, 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 city, 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 sergeants
of their respective counties and cities for distribution. Each such sheriff
or sergeant 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.