Chap. 430.—An ACT to amend and reenact Section 156, as amended, of the Code
of Virginia relating to elections. {H 406)

Approved April 1, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section one hundred fifty-six, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

Section 156. Oath of the printer—The printer with whom the
board shall contract for the printing of the ballots shall, before the
work is commenced, take an oath before the secretary of the board,
who is hereby empowered to administer such oath, to the following
effect: “T, we. nese cceeeeceseseeee , solemnly swear that I will print (here
insert number) ballots according to the instructions of the electoral
board of the county (or City) Of 2... eee eee ; that I will
print, and permit to be printed, directly, or indirectly, no more than
the above number; that I will at once destroy all imperfect and perfect
impressions other than those required to be delivered to the electoral
board; that as soon as such number of ballots is printed I will distribute
the type used for the work, and that I will not communicate to any one
whomsoever, in any manner whatsoever, the size, style, or contents of
such ballots.”

This oath shall be reduced to writing and signed by the person taking
it, and also a similar affidavit shall be required of any employee or other
person engaged upon the work, or who shall have access to it; and any
intentional violation of such oath shall constitute the crime of perjury.
It shall be the duty of the board to designate one of their number to
be continuously present in the room in which the ballots are printed
from the commencement until the end of the work, and see that the
undertakings of the oath are strictly complied with. For the faithful
discharge of said duty he shall receive the compensation of six dollars.
In cities having a population of thirty thousand or more inhabitants,
the electoral board may designate some other person to perform such
duties; such person, before entering upon the performance of such
duties, shall take an oath that he will faithfully execute the same. As
soon as the ballots are printed they shall be securely wrapped and
sealed, and such member, or designated member of the electoral board
shall take and keep them in his exclusive possession, allowing no one
to examine them until delivered to the electoral board, as provided by
law. Any violation of any provisions of this section, for which no
punishment has been otherwise provided, shall be deemed a misdemeanor
and punished by a fine of two hundred dollars and imprisonment for
one month in jail.

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit any electoral
board from publishing or otherwise disclosing the contents, style and
size of ballots, which information electoral boards are hereby authorized
and empowered to publish or otherwise disclose.