Chap. 236.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2, chapter 249,
Acts of Assembly 1856-7, in relation to the time of holding the elec-
tions for town officers in the town of Smithfield, in Isle of Wight
county. ,

Approved March 29, 1877.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
section two, chapter two hundred and forty-nine, Acta of
eighteen hundred and fifty-six and seven, be amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 2. On the fourth Thursday in May, one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven, there shall be elected by the
qualified voters of the town of Smithfield, in Isle of Wight
county, four persons as aldermen and one other person as
mayor, to serve as the council of said town for one year and
until their successors are elected and qualified: the person
who shall receive the greatest number of votes shall be de-
nomiuated first alderman, the person receiving the next
highest number of votes, the second alderman, and so on to
the fourth. The said election shall be conducted by the ser-
greant of said town, if any sergeant, and if no sergeant, then
by the sheriff of the county of Isle of Wight, at such place
in said town as such sergeant or sheriff shall designate, or
at such place as may be directed by ordinance of the council,
and when the election is closed (which shall be at sunaet of
the said day), and the result ascertained, the said officer so
conducting the election shall grant to each person so elected
a certificate of his election, which certificate shall state
whether the person to whom it is granted has received the
first, second, third or fourth highest number of votes (and
consequently his rank as councilman), and if a tie shall exist,
the officer conducting such election shall decide how those
who may be tied shall rank as alderman; the said officer shall
also grant to the person elected mayor, a certificate of his
clection, and for failure or neglect to tender or grant such
certificate, he shall for each offence forfeit and pay to the use
of the corporation a fine not less than fifty dollars, to be re-
covered by warrant before any justice of the peace for the
county of Isle of Wight. If there be a tie between the per-
sons voted for as mayor, the officer conducting such election
shall decide which of them shall be mayor. The persons 80
elected, shall, before they enter upon any of the duties of
their respective offices, take an oath or make solemn aflirma-
tion before some justice of the peace for the county of Isle
of Wight, well and truly, faithfully and impartially, to do,
execute and perform the duties of their respective offices ac-
cording to the best of their skill and judgment.

2. All acts dnd parts of acts in conflict with this act are
hereby repealed. ;

3. This act sball be in force from its passage.