CHAP. 839.—An ACT to provide for the submission to the people of the pro-
posed amendments to sections 1 and 2 of article 7 of the constitution of
Virginia, and providing for the consolidation of the spring elections for
county and district officers held on the fourth Thursday in May, and pro-
viding said elections to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in

ovember.

Approved March 6, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall
be the duty of the officers conducting the election directed by law, to
be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
nineteen hundred and one, at the places appointed for holding the same,
to provide a separate ballot-box at said election, in which the judges
of election shall deposit the ballots of all qualified voters voting on
amendments to the constitution, and open a poll to take the sense
of the qualified voters of the commonwealth upon the ratification
or rejection of the amendments to the constitution of Virginia contained
in the joint resolution proposing amendments to the said constitution
in relation to the consolidation of the elections held on the fourth
Thursday in May for the election of county and district officers, with
the elections to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Mondav
in November, and directing a submission of said proposed amendments
to the people for their approval and ratification—to wit:

Strike out from the constitution of Virginia sections one and two of
article seven, which are in the following words:

S$ 1. There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county one
sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth (who shall also be the
commonwealth’s attorney for the circuit court), one county clerk (who
shall also be the clerk of the circuit court, except that in counties con-
taining fifteen thousand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for
the circuit court), one county treasurer, and so many commissioners
of the revenue as may be provided by Jaw; and there shall be appointed
in the like manner, to be provided by law, one superintendent of the
poor and one county survevor; and there shall also be appointed in
the manner provided for in article eight one superintendent of schools.
All regular elections for county officers shall be held on the fourth
Thursday in May; and all officers eleeted or appointed under this
provision shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the first
day of July next succeeding their election, and shall hold their re-
spective offices for the term of four years, except that county and
circuit court clerks shall hold office for six years.

§ 2. Each county of the state shall be divided into so many com-
pactly located magisterial districts as may be deemed necessary, not
less than three: provided, that after these have been formed no addi-
tional districts shall be made containing less than thirty square miles.
Kach magisterial district shall be known as magisterial district
of county. In each district there shall be elected one super-
visor, three justices of the peace, one constable, and one overseer of
the poor, who shall hold their respective offices for the term of two
years. All regular elections for magisterial district officers shall take
place on the fourth Thursday in May, and all officers so elected
shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the first
day of July next succeeding their election. The supervisors of
the districts shall constitute the board of supervisors for that county,
whose duty it shall be to audit the accounts of the county, ex-
amine the books of the commissioners of the revenue, regulate and
equalize the valuation of property, fix the county levies for the ensuing
year, and perform any other duties required of them by law.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

§ 1. There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county one
sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth (who shall also be the
commonwealth’s attorney for the circuit court), one county clerk (who
shall also be the clerk of the circuit court, except that in counties con-
taining fifteen thousand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for
the circuit court), one county treasurer, and so many commissioners
of the revenue as may be provided by law; and there shall be appointed
in a like manner, to be provided by law, one superintendent of the
poor and one county surveyor; and there shall also be appointed in
the manner provided for in article eight one superintendent of schools.

All regular election for county officers shall be held on the Tuesday
succeeding the first Monday in November, and all officers elected or ap-
pointed under this provision shall enter upon the duties of their offices
on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall
hold their respective offices for the term of four years, except that county
and circuit court clerks shall hold office for six years.

& 2. Each county of the state shall be divided into so many com-
pactly located magisterial districts as may be deemed necessary, not
less than three: provided, that after these have been formed no addi-
tional districts shall be made containing less than thirtv square miles.
Each magisterial district shall be known as magisterial district
of county. In each district there shall be elected one super-
visor, three justices of the peace, one constable, and one overseer of
the poor, who shall hold their respective offices for the term of two
years. All regular elections for magisterial district officers shall take
place on the Tuesday succeeding the first Mondav in November, and all
officers so elected shall enter upon the duties of their respective offices
on the first day of January next succeeding their election. The super-
visors of the districts shall constitute the board of supervisors for that
county, whose duty it shall be to audit the accounts of the county, ex-

amine the books of the commissioners of the revenue, regulate and
equalize the valuation of property, fix the county levies for the ensuing
year, and perform any other duties required of them by law.

Schedule.—At such election each of said voters who shall approve said
amendments shall, on the ballot which he uses to vote at said election
have printed the words “for the amendments to sections one and two
of article seven”; and “against the amendments to sections one and
two of article seven ”; which ballots the secretary of the commonwealth
is hereby directed to have prepared and distributed.

2. That immediately after closing the polls the said officers shall
count the ballots deposited at said election for and against said proposed
amendments, and shall make return thereof at the time and in the
manner provided by law as in the case of other elections; and it shall
be the duty of the clerks and commissioners of election of each county,
respectively, to make out, certify, and forward an abstract of the votes
cast for and against said proposed amendments in the manner now
prescribed by law in relation to votes cast in general election.

3. It shall be the duty of the secretary of the commonwealth, and of
the state board of canvassers, to. open and canvass the said abstract
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 election; and it
shall be the duty of the secretary of the commonwealth to record said
certified statement in his office, and without delay to make out and
transmit to the governor of the commonwealth an official copy of said
statement, certified by him under his seal of office. |

4. The governor shall, without delay, make proclamation of the
result, stating therein the aggregate vote for and against said amend-
ments, to be published in such newspapers in the state as mav be
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.

5. The secretary of the commonwealth shall cause to be sent to the
clerks of each county and corporation as many copies of this act as
there are places of voting therein; and it shall be the duty of said clerks
to deliver the same to the sheriff for distribution, whose duty it
shall he forthwith to post the said copies at some public place in
each election district.

6. The expenses incurred in conducting this election shall be de-
fraved as in the case of the election of members of the general assembly.

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