Chap. 517.—An ACT to prohibit the active participation in politics of
certain oflicers of the state government.

Approved March 18, 1884.

1. Beit enacted by the gencral assembly of Virginia, That
it shall not be lawful for the judge of any court, the superin-
tendent of public instruction, any superintendent of schools,
the superintendent, manager, or any employee of any asylum,
or state institution of learning, actively to induce or procure,
either directly or indirectly, or to attempt either directly or
indirectly to induce or procure any qualified elector to vote
in any election for any particular candidate, or in favor of
any particular political party, or to vote against any particu-
lar candidate, or against any particular political party.

2. It shall not ‘he lawful for any of the officers or em-
ployecs mentioned in the foregoing section, to participate
actively in politics, and making political speeches, or the ac-
tive or official participation in political mectings, shall be
deemcd to be an active participation in politics “within the
meaning of this section.

3. Any person offending under cither of the foregoing sec-
tions shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction thereof, shall be fined no less than fifty dollars nor
more than five hundred dollars for each offence. Any person
prosecuted under section one of this act may be examined as
a witness in his own behalf.

4, Any person convicted under this act shall forfeit the of-
fice or appointment held by him, and it shall be the duty of
the court wherein such party is convicted, to declare the of-
fice or appointment so beld by such person vacated, and such
vacancy shall be filled in the mode prescribed by law for fill-
ing vacancies occurring in such office.
5. This act shall be in force from its passage.