CHAPTER 631

An Act to provide for the submission of a proposed amendment to § 69
of the Constitution of Virginia to the qualified voters for ratification
or rejection, and to prescribe when and how such referendum shall
be had, and the manner in which the results thereof shall be ascer-
tained and certified, the returns canvassed, and the vote thereon pro-
claimed by the Governor.

{H 544]

Approved March 31, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. It shall be the duty of officers conducting the election directed by law
to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, nineteen
hundred fifty-six, at the places appointed for holding the same, to open a
poll and take the sense of the qualified voters upon the ratification or
rejection of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of Virginia con-
tained in the joint resolution proposing the said amendment to the Con-
stitution of Virginia, and directing a submission of said proposed amend-
ment to the people for their approval and ratification, to-wit:

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Section sixty-nine, which
is in the following words:

Section 69. Governor; term of office

The chief executive power of the State shall be vested in a Governor.
He shall hold office for a term commencing on the third Wednesday in
986 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [vaA., 1956

January next succeeding his election and ending on the Tuesday after the
second Wednesday in January in the fourth year thereafter. He shall be
ineligible to the same office for the term next succeeding that for which
he was elected, and to any other office during his term of service.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

Section 69. Governor; term of office.

The chief executive power of the State shall be vested in a Governor.
He shall hold office for a term commencing upon his inauguration on the
Saturday after the second Wednesday in January next succeeding his
election and ending in the fourth year thereafter immediately after the
inauguration of his successor. He shall be ineligible to the same office for
the term next succeeding that for which he was elected, and to any other
office during his term of service.

Schedule

At such election a ballot shall be furnished each voter which shall
have printed thereon the following: toes

Question: Shall Secfion sixty-nine of the Constitution of Virginia be
amended so as to provide that the Governor shall hold office for a term
commencing upon his inauguration on the Saturday after the second
Wednesday in January next succeeding his election and ending in the
fourth year thereafter immediately after the inauguration of his suc-
cessor? ,

O For
O Against

The ballot shall be prepared, distributed and voted, and the results
thereof ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24-141
of the Code of Virginia. It shall be the duty of the clerks and commis-
sioners of election of each county and city, respectively, to make out,
certify and forward an abstract of the votes cast for and against said
proposed amendment in the manner now prescribed by law in relation to
votes cast in general elections.

It shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections to open and can-
vass the said abstracts of returns, and to examine and make statement of
the whole number of votes given at said election for said proposed amend-
ment and against said proposed amendment, respectively, in the manner
now prescribed by law in relation to votes cast in general elections; and
it shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections to record said certified
statement in its office, and without delay to make out and transmit to the
poor of the Commonwealth an official copy of said statement, certified

y it.

The Governor shall, without delay, make proclamation of the result,
stating therein the aggregate vote for and against said amendment, to be
published in such newspapers in the State as may be deemed requisite
for general information; and if a majority of said votes be cast for the
ratification of the amendment, he shall annex to his proclamation a copy
thereof. The State Board of Elections shall cause to be sent to the clerks
of each county and corporation, at least thirty days before the election,
as many copies of this act as there are places of voting therein; and it
shall be the duty of such clerks to forthwith deliver the same to the
sheriffs of their respective counties and cities for distribution. Each such
sheriff shall forthwith post a copy of such act at some public place in each
election district at or near the usual voting place in the said district.

The expenses incurred in conducting this election shall be defrayed
as in the case of the election of members of the General Assembly.