CHAPTER 258

An Act to provide for the submission of a proposed amendment to Sec.
80 of the Constitution of Virginia to the qualified voters for rattfica-
tion or rejection, and to prescribe when and how such referendum
shall be had, and the manner in which the results thereof shall be
ascertained and certified, the returns canvassed, and the vote thereon
proclaimed by the Governor.

[fH 231]

Approved March 14, 1962
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. It shall be the duty of the officers conducting the election directed by
law to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, nine-
teen hundred sixty-two, 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,
contained in the joint resolution proposing the said amendment to the
Constitution of Virginia, and directing a submission of said proposed
amendment to the people for their approval and ratification, to wit:

Strike from the Constitution of Virginia Sec. 30, which is as follows:

Sec. 30. General Assembly may prescribe property qualification
for voting in county, city or town elections.—The General Assembly may
prescribe a property qualification not exceeding two hundred and fifty
dollars for voters in any county or subdivision thereof, or city or town as
a prerequisite for voting in any election for officers, other than the mem-
bers of the General Assembly, to be wholly elected by the voters of such
county or subdivision thereof, or city, or town, such action, if taken, to
be had upon the initiative of a representative in the General Assembly of
the county, city or town affected; provided, that the General Assembly,
in its discretion, may make such exemptions from the operation of said
property qualifications as shall not be in conflict with the Constitution of
the United States.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

Sec. 30. The General Assembly may prescribe a property qualifica-
tion not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars for voters in any county
or subdivision thereof, or city or town as a prerequisite for voting in any
election for officers, other than the members of the General Assembly, to
be wholly elected by the voters of such county or subdivision thereof, or
city, or town, such action, if taken, to be had upon the initiative of a
representative in the General Assembly of the county, city or town
affected; provided, that the General Assembly, in its discretion, may make
such exemptions from the operation of said property qualifications as shall
not be in conflict with the Constitution of the United States; provided,
further, that the General Assembly may require, in every referendum
required by the Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth to be held
upon the question of the issuance of bonds or other obligations of the
Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, that every voter in
such referendum shall be a freeholder of land within the Commonwealth
or within the political subdivision to be obligated, as the case may be and
the General Assembly shall define who shall be a freeholder for the pur-
poses of any such referendum.

SCHEDULE

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

Question: Shall section thirty of the Constitution of Virginia be
amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to require in every ref-
erendum required upon the issuance of State or local bonds that every voter
therein shall be a freeholder of land within the State or political sub-
division to be obligated, as requisite, and the General Assembly shall
decide who shall be a freeholder for such purposes?

[] For

[] 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, cer-
tify and forward an abstract of the votes cast for and against said pro-
posed 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
amendment and against said proposed amendment, respectively, in the
manner now prescribed by law in relation to votes cast in general elec-
tions; 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 Governor of the Commonwealth an official copy of said
statement, certified by 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 or
sergeants of their respective counties and cities for distribution. Each
such sheriff or sergeant 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.