CHAPTER 297

An Act to provide for the registration of voters in certain counties and
what provisions of law shall be applicable thereto; to that end to
amend and reenact § 24-118.5 of the Code of Virginia, which was en-
acted by Chapter 228 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952, and Chapter
291 of the Acts of Assembly of 1942, approved March 30, 1942, as
amended, the section and act relating to registration of voters in
counties.

[S 119]

Approved March 10, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 24-118.5 of the Code of Virginia, which was enacted by
Chapter 228 of the Acts of Assembly of 1952, be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 24-118.5. The governing body of any county, other than a county
having a density of population of four thousand or more per square mile,
may in the month of March of any year provide by resolution for the
creation of the office of general registrar of the county and may further
so provide for appointment of such assistant registrars as circumstances
may require. Upon receipt of a certified copy of the resolution of the
governing body requesting the appointment of a general registrar and
assistant registrars by the county electoral board, the electoral board shall
within thirty days thereafter appoint such general registrar and assistant
registrars who shall be discreet citizens, qualified voters and residents of
the county for which appointed, and shall possess the qualifications pre-
scribed by law for registrars. The appointment of such general registrar
shall automatically abolish the office of registrar for each and all of the
election districts of such county as provided by law, as of the date of quali-
fication of the general registrar, and each and every such district registrar
CH. 297] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 349

shall thereupon promptly deliver to the general registrar all the books,
papers and documents pertaining to their office.

2. That Chapter 291 of the Acts of Assembly of 1942, approved March
30, 1942, as amended, be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 1. * Any county having a density of population of four thousand
or more per square mile, according to the last preceding United States
census, shall have a general registrar for such county, who shall be a dis-
creet citizen and resident of said county, and in addition registrars for
the several election districts of such county. The registrars for the several
election districts shall be appointed as provided by law and assume office in
accordance with such provisions. Any general registrar in such county
holding office under the provisions of any other law shall be subject to the
provisions of this act and the term of office of such registrar shall termi-
nate upon the beginning of the term of the general registrar provided for
in this act.

§ 2. Such general registrar shall be appointed in the month of May,
nineteen hundred fifty-six and each two years thereafter for a term of
two years, beginning on the first day of * July next following his appoint-
ment, and shall not hold any elective office at any time during his term
of office of general registrar, but may perform any other duties assigned
to him by such board of supervisors or governing body. The electoral
board may appoint some qualified person already in the employ of the
county. The general registrar shall serve at the pleasure of the electoral
board. He shall maintain and keep open during the regular office hours
of the county offices, an office or place in such county court house to be
provided by said governing body where any voter of the county may
register, and upon any voter so registering before him, he shall promptly
certify the same to the registrar of the voting district of which the regis-
trant is a resident, and such registrar shall enter the same on his proper
registration book and file such certificate among his records. The registrar
of each voting district shall, upon any registering before him, certify the
same to the general registrar, who shall enter the same upon his records
and file such certificate.

§ 3. Such general registrar shall not receive any fees for his services
as such, but he may be paid a salary for his services, to be fixed by such
board or governing body. The registrar of the election district of which
the registrant is a resident, for registering a voter on any such certificate,
shall, however, receive the same compensation as if such voter had regis-
tered before him in the first place. The general registrar appointed pur-
suant to this act * may receive applications for absent voter’s ballots *
and transmit the same to the electoral board as provided by law. At least
five days before any primary or general election and at least two days
before any second primary or special election he shall furnish to the regis-
trar of each election district a list of applicants who are registered voters
in such district.

§ 4. The electoral board of the county may appoint, subject to the
same conditions as restrict the appointment of a general registrar here-
under, an assistant or assistants to the general registrar. The assistant
or assistants to the general registrar may be chosen from other registrars,
if any, of the county. Such assistant or assistants shall perform such
duties and receive such compensation as may be required and provided by
the electoral board and county governing body respectively.

3. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.