The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-15
The hTTOR NERAL's OPINION
On ALTERNATING BALLOTS

The Dispatch suggested yesterday that
ask the Attorney-General If lac
thought the county electoral boards had
right TO alternate the names Of can
didates on number Of ballots at each
precinct. The Times accordingly address
cd him the following letter:
Richmond. March II. '95.
Hen. r. Taylor Scott, Attorney-General
of Virginia:
Dear sir In order to settle what opin-
ion you have given upon The question of
the legal right of the county boards of
election to alternate the names of candi-
dates on ballots that is, to print the
same names in different succession upon
different ballots. under the Walton law.
a, The Times respectfully asks you to he
20 ,ncgood enough TO state what. your opinion
little sors on MS qaestion In order that we may
ont Tbiblish the same for information of the
time ago pic
flying out very iTSpg rIit,n' C,o,,p,>.v
which It received tie following
st. Patrie'er:
Sunday Richmond March IA. 1895.
To the Editors of The Richmond Times:
ST Gentlemen: Your note of to-day is be-
= fore me, In which you ask my opinion
whether or not electoral boards. under
the Walton law. have the right TO alter
nate the names of the candidates upon
the ballot, that is, to print the names
of the candidates in different order
succession.
The law does not prescribe the order
or succession I'm which the names of
candidates shall be placed upon the bal
lot. but leaves this 10 the judgment and
discretion of the board. If the order
succession of the names of candidates
varied upon the ballots prepared by
electoral boards in my opinion the ballot
is legal
Very respectfully yours
X. TAYLOR SCOTT.
Acknowledgement of Virginia.
rbn Attornev-GeneraIs oDinion Is
distinct on the question to which VIC
wished "A specific reply. but we think we
know what his meaning is. He means
that the electoral boards of the counties
have a discretion TO print number of
pieces OF paper for each precinct and
TO have the names of the candidates in
one order or succession upon one of the
pieces and In another order or succession
upon another of the pieces All those bal
lots, in the opinion of the Attorney-Cien-
oral. constitute in fact but one ballot"
We believe, then. that the Attorney
General is of opinion that what done
in our last election is sanctioned by the
law. so that the Dispatch has understood
him and we have not.
We think. however, that we owe it to
ourselves to reprint here the published
opinions of the Attorney-Generai, upon
which We made up our opinion of his
Views.
ON the 18th day of October 1891.
he gave the Secretary Of the Com
monwealth the following opinion:
Commonwealth OF Virginia.
Attorney-GeneraTs ONCE.
Wsrr6nton, Va. oct II. 1894
Hon j. T. Lawess. Secretary of the
Commonwealth. Richmond. Va.
Dear Sir; Your letter of the 10th in
RN.A Iptghfta afNA
office. has been received and TO its en-
quires will make reply.
/. To Mr.. Edward L. {, Scott, secro-
tary of the electoral board "a Hanover
county who asks whether. IN printing
the election tickets. 1t will be necessary
for me- secretary of my board, 10
print the names on the tickets IN the
order OF arrangement furnished by you
Secretary of the Commonwealth II
not. viii you please advise me whether
board must follow any particular ar
rangcment OF names tickets
| reply the ballot law" prescribes
order arrangement for the names OF
candidates upon the ballot" | con
strue It. the arrangement and order In
which the candidates names are put
upon THE ballot is left 20 the judgment
and discretion OF the electoral boards of
the cities and counties OF the Common
wealth.
2. You ask that give my opinion re-
garding the ballots TO be used i'm the
vote upon the constitutional amendment
20 be submitted 10 the people at the
coming election on the 9th of November,
whether the ballots should be separate
aud deposited In separate baot-box?
THE Walton ballot law" wac passed
after the act which directs the proposed
constitutional amendment to be submit
ted TO the people
''The nth section OF this law enacts
that ut shall be the duty of the electoral
boards OF the several counties and cities
within the state within thirty days pre-