CHAPTER 302

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
15-354.2, providing for a referendum on the question of the voters re-
quired to approve bond issues in certain counties. S 156

[ ]

Approved March 10, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding a section numbered
15-354.2 as follows:

§ 15-354.2. (a) In the year nineteen hundred fifty-six there may be
in any county which has adopted the county manager form of organization
and government provided for in this article a referendum on the following
question:

Shall county bond issues be subject to approval of a majority of the
voters who are freeholders (as well as a majority of the voters) of the
county voting in the election?

The provisions of § 15-360.1 shall apply, and the election shall be
conducted, the ballots marked, the returns canvassed and the results
certified as provided in § 24-141 of the Code of Virginia.

(b) If a majority of the qualified electors voting in the referendum
called and held as hereinabove provided shall vote in favor of requiring
approval of county bond issues by a majority of the voters who are free-
holders, (as well as a majority of the voters) of the county voting in a
bond issue election, thereafter no bonds shall be issued by the county
unless approved by a majority of the voters who are freeholders voting
and a majority of the total vote cast in an election called or held for
the purpose.

(c) For the purpose of an election on the question of whether bonds
of the county shall be issued, the registered qualified voters of the county
who are also freeholders in the county on the date of notice of such election
shall be determined in the following manner: at least twenty days prior
to such election the electoral board shall ascertain and record on an official
list the names of such registered qualified voters who are also freeholders
in the county and shall publish forthwith such list by posting copies thereof
in at least three public places in the county. On such posted copies, notice
shall be given of the time and place of a meeting of the board (to be
held not less than seven nor more than ten days before such election) |
for the purpose of correcting said official list, and at such meeting or any
adjournment thereof the board shall make such additions or eliminations
or both as ascertained facts shall require. The official list as corrected
shall constitute the final and authoritative determination of the qualified
registered voters who are also freeholders for such election. The board
shall in like manner prepare a list of qualified registered voters who are not
freeholders.

The election officials shall provide separate voting facilities for quali-
fied voters who are also freeholders in the county, and for qualified voters
who are not freeholders in the county. The votes thus cast shall be first
canvassed separately before being totaled to determine whether a majority
of the votes cast approve the bond issue.

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