CHAPTER 115

An Act to amend and reenact § 24-141 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
procedures respecting special elections and referendums.

rer ae 4
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1 That § 24-141 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows :

§ 24-141. Notwithstanding any provision of any other statute or
act, or of the charter of any city or town, to the contrary, whenever any
question or proposition is to be submitted to the electors of any county,
city or town, or any referendum is ordered, the election on such question,
proposition or referendum whether it be at a regular or special election,
shall be held as provided herein.

A copy of any court order calling a special election shall be sent. to
the State Board of Elections as soon as practicable by the clerk of the
court in which the order was issued.

The ballot shall be prepared by the appropriate electoral board and
distributed to the appropriate election districts or precincts, and at the
time for such regular election, or on the day fixed for such special election,
the regular election officers shall open a poll and take the sense of the
qualified voters of the county, city, town, ward, district, zone, or other local
subdivision, as the case may be, on the question, proposition or referendum
so submitted to such electors. All such elections shall be held and conducted
in the manner prescribed by law for other elections, provided, however,
that the ballots for use at any such election shall be printed to read as
ollows:

“Questions (here state briefly the question or proposition submitted
to the electors)

[] For

[1 Against”

The squares to be printed on such ballots shall not be less than one-
quarter nor more than one-half inch in size, and the voting shall be by a
positive affirmative method, which shall be by each elector voting at any
such election, placing a check (\/) mark, or a cross (x or -++-) mark, ora
line (—) in the square or squares immediately before the appropriate word
or words, indicating how he desires to vote on the question or proposition
so submitted.

The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed as in
other elections, and the results certified by the commissioners of election
to the clerk of the court, or the court or judge or other authority calling or
authorizing such election, as the case may be, who shall make such order
or certification as may be proper to accomplish the purpose of such election
or referendum.