Chap. 12.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 17 of an act of the general
assembly of Virginia, entitled “an act to provide a method of voting by ballot,”
approved March 6, 1894, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved March
4, 1896, as amended and re-enacted by an act approved March 6, 1900.

Approved July 28, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the seven-
teenth section of an act of the general assombly approved March fourth,
eighteen hundred and ninety-six, entitled “an act to amend and re-enact
an act entitled an act to provide a method of voting by ballot, approved
March sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four,” be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 1%. Any person registered prior to the first day of January, nineteen
hundred and four, shall be assisted in the preparation of his ballot by
one of the judges of clection designated by himself. And the judges, or
a majority of them, shall designate one of their number, whose duty it
shall be, at the request of any elector registered after the first day of
January, nineteen hundred and four, who may be physically unable to
prepare his ballot to enter the booth with said elector and render him
assistance in preparing his ballot by reading the names of the offices to
be voted for on the ballot, and pointing out which name or names the
said elector may wish to strike out, or otherwise aid him in preparing
his ballot. In case said elector be blind, said judge of election so ap-
pointed and designated shall prepare said ballot for said elector in ac-
cordance with his instructions, but the said judge shall not enter the
booth with the voter unless requested by him, and shall not in any man-
ner divulge or indicate, by signs or otherwise, the name or names of the
person or persons for whom any clector shall vote. The said judges, or
a majority of them, shall have power, from time to time, when and as
often as thev may see proper, to change the appointment and designation
of the judge who shall discharge the duties prescribed by this act, and
designate another judge in his place and stead to perform the same; and
for a corrupt notation of any of the provisions of this section, the person
so notating shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and. be confined in
jail not less than one nor more than twelve months.

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