Chap. 64.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 197-a of the Code of Virginia,
relating to how certain special elections and referenda may be held and the
result thereof ascertained and certified, so as to provide that the voting at any
such election shall be by a positive affirmative method as therein defined.

[S B 27]
Approved February 25, 1942

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
one hundred and ninety-seven-a of the Code of Virginia, be amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 197-a. Notwithstanding any provision of any other statute
or act, or of the charter of any city or town, to the contrary, whenever
any question or proposition is to be submitted to the electors of any
county, city or town, or any referendum is ordered, the election on such
question, proposition or referendum whether it be at a regular or special
election, shall be held as provided herein.

The ballots shall be prepared by the appropriate electoral board and
distributed to the appropriate election districts or precincts, and at the
time for such regular election, or on the day fixed for such special election,
the regular election officers shall open a poll and take the sense of the
qualified voters of the county, city, town, ward, district, zone, or other
local subdivision, as the case may be, on the question, proposition or
referendum so submitted to such electors. All such elections shall be held
and conducted in the manner prescribed by law for other elections, pro-
vided, however, that the ballots for use at any such election shall be
printed to read as follows:
60 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [va., 1942

“Question: (here state briefly the question or proposition submitted
to the electors). |

[] For
[] Against”

The squares to be printed on such ballots shall not be less than one-
quarter nor more than one-half inch in size, and the voting shall be by a
positive affirmative method, which shall be by each elector voting at any
such election, placing a check (\/) mark, or a cross (X or +) mark, or
a line (—) in the square or squares immediately before the appropriate
word or words, indicating how he desires to vote on the question oreprop-
osition so submitted.

The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in
other elections, and the results certified by the commissioners of election
to the clerk of the court, or the court or judge or other authority calling
or authorizing such election, as the case may be, who shall make such
order or certification as may be proper to accomplish the purpose of such
election or referendum. ]