Chap. 358.—An ACT to authorize the qualified voters of Norfolk county

to vote upon the question of the removal of the courthouse of said
county.

Approved May 21, 1887.

Whereas the general assembly.of Virginia by an act ap-
proved March sixth, eighteen hundred and eighty, provided
that the question of changing the site of the courthouse of
Norfolk county, should be submitted to the voters of said
county at the general election held therein in November,
eighteen hundred and eighty; and whereas the vote returned
by the commissioners of election of said county, who can-
vassed the returns of said vote, showed that a majority of the
votes cast at said election were in favor of the change of the
site of said courthouse, and the county surveyors of Isle of
Wight and Nansemond counties, as authorized, designated
Portlock’s farm, in Norfolk county, as the site to which said
courthouse shall be removed; and whereas great and wide-
spread dissatisfaction exists among the citizens and tax-
payers of said county at the site thus selected; therefore,

1. Beit enacted by the gencral assembly of Virginia, That
it shall be the duty of the officers conducting the elections of
said county on Thursday the seventh day of July, eighteen
hundred and eighty-seven, to open a poll at each of the voting
places in said county, for the purpose of determining the
sense or the then qualified voters of said county, as to
whether or not the site of the courthouse of said county shall
be changed from its present location in the city of Ports-
mouth to Portlock’s farm in said county, the site so desig-
nated by said county surveyors. The said election shall be
conducted by ballot, and said ballots shall have written or

rinted thereon, “For removal of the courthouse to Port-
ock’s farm,” or “Against the removal of the courthouse to
Portlock’s farm.”

2. The mam___- receiving and canvassing the ballots cast
at said election on said question, and making returns and
abstracts thereof, shall conform in all respects to the require-
ments of the general election law of the State, except that
the certificates of the judges shall be as follows: We hereby
certify that at the clection held on the —— day of ;
eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, votes were cast
for removal of the courthouse to Portlock’s farm, and
were cast against the removal of the courthouse to Portlock’s
farm.
A. B. E. F.
C. D. sii G. H. } Judges.
J. K

And the county commissioners of the returns of the election
made to the county clerk’s office, shall canvass these returns
in like manner as other election returns, and certify the vote
efst “for removal” and “against removal” respectively to
the county clerk of said county, who shall forthwith certify
the same to the board of supervisors of said county. If a
majority of the votes polled at said election shall be against
removal, then the present site of said courthouse shall not he
changed.

3. If a majority of the votes polled be cast for removal,
then the said board of supervisors shall forthwith take the
necessary action to carry into effect the wishes of the said
voters so expressed, by proceeding as directed in section four,
chapter two hundred and twenty-one, Acts of the General
Assembly, session eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, and
eighteen hundred and eighty.

4. It shall be the duty of the county court of Norfolk
county, to give at least thirty days notice of said election, by
causing publication thereof to be made in one newspaper pub-
lished in the city of Norfolk, and one published in the city of
Portsmouth, and by posting notice thereof at the courthouse
door and at cach voting place in said county.

5. All acts and parts of acts so far as they are inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.