Chap. 778.—An ACT to provide for submitting to the qualified voters of the
state the question of calling a constitutional convention, to be held for the
purpose of revising and amending the present constitution.

Approved March 5, 1900.

1. Be it enacted bv the general assembly of Virginia, That at an
election to be held on the fourth Thursday in May, nineteen hundred,
there shall be submitted to the electors qualified to vote for members
of the general assembly the question, “Shall there be a convention to
revise the constitution and amend the same?”

2. The judges of election at each of the several voting places in the
state are hereby required to hold an election on the day above named
at all those election precincts in the state where otherwise there would
be no election held.

3. The ballots to be used in said election shall be furnished by the
respective electoral boards. At those precincts where there would other-
wise be no etection, the ballots furnished shall have the words “ for
constitutional convention ” printed thereon, which shall be in such type
as is provided in the general law, and shall be at least one inch below
any heading or other printing on said ballot, and at those precincts
where an election for other purposes is held on that day the ballots
containing the names of the candidates for the various offices to be voted
for shall also have printed thereon the words “ for constitutional con-
vention,” which shall be in such type as is provided in the general law,
and shall be at least one inch below anv heading or other printing on said
ballot. If at any election precinct where an election is held there are
candidates to be voted for but no nominations are made, the electoral
board shall furnish ballots with the words “ for constitutional conven-
tion ” printed thereon, which shall be in such type as is provided in the
general law, and shall be at least one inch below any heading or other

rinting on said ballot.

4. A ballot deposited with the words “ for constitutional convention ”
printed thereon shall be a vote for a convention, and a ballot deposited
with the words “ for constitutional convention ” erased or stricken ou!
shall be a vote against a convention.

5. Any voter who shall be unable to properly prepare his ballot ir
the manner hereinbefore indicated shall be entitled to require the assist:
ance for that purpose of the judge of election designated to assist
illiterate and physically disabled voters.

6. The manner of receiving and canvassing said ballots and makins
returns and abstracts thereof shall conform in all respects to the re-
quirements of the general election laws of the state when nominations
are made, except the certificate of judges and clerks, which shall be as
follows, or to like effect:

“We hereby certify that at the election held on the fourth Thursday
in May, nineteen hundred, there were votes cast for constitu-
tional convention and votes cast against constitutional con-
vention.

Clerks. Judges.”
And the proper official canvassers of general election returns shall can-
vass these returns in a like manner as other election returns, and the
result shall be certified to the secretary of the commonwealth as the
result in other elections is certified.

%. The board of state canvassers shall meet in the office of the sec-
retary of the commonwealth on the second Monday in June, nineteen
hundred, and shall examine the certified abstracts of such returns, and
shall make a certified statement of the whole number of votes cast for
constitutional convention and the whole number of votes cast against
constitutional convention, and they shall examine all thé certified ab-
stracts of returns of votes cast at said election, and shall determine and
certify the number of electors voting at said election for any purpose.
and whether a majority of the same were in favor of a constitutional
convention; and shall subscribe their names thereto, and shall deliver
the same over to the secretary of the commonwealth, who shall record.
in a suitable book to be kept in his office, such certified statement and
determination, and a certified copy of the same, to be made by the sec-
retary of the commonwealth, shall be communicated by the governor to
the general assembly at its first session ensuing thereafter.

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