Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-27
To VOTE BY BALLOT.
OPINION OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL
BEARING on THIS POINT.
The CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Major scott Quotes from tho Parker
Law 10 show How the sense OF the
peonie Nust He Taken, and Advises
Mr.. LavIe,s as 10 His Duties.

Acknowledgement r. Taylor Scott
having been asked by the Secretary OF
the Commonwealth to give his construc-
tion OF the act providing for vote peihs
taken on the question OF calling CON-
stltutlonal convention in so far as the
duties of the Secretary are concerned mas
written Mr.. Lawless the following letter.
commonwealth of Virginia
"Attorney-Ge Generals ONCE,
Richmond, Va, March 20 i''.,
"Hon. J. T. Lawess, Secretary Oh INC
Commonwealth, City' =.
Dear Sir.-You ask me what duty ~. -
imposed upon you by an aet W al III" Of a
convention to revise and amend tne ~
sttution approved March 4, $780, Acts
1856, page 797 ,...,,d ,his
"As 1 construe and understand thls
law, your duty to provide the poli-poQ9hs
and receive the result OF TINS eiec .t',,l
when duly certified by the ConIili is'I 20
ers of Election and deliver the ss !n' ~ ~
the Speaker of the House OF Delega.ss OF, ,
the LIST day Of the next general OF speSi"i
session of the General Assembly ,.,.,.
"'The Constitution of Virginia, Article
H., section Elective Francn thet a .aIi
Qualifications for Office. ordalns thdt az
elections shall be by ballot.
1.-THE statute under consideration en-
acts section l.: BE II. therefore, enacteu.
authorized to conduct the elections WITHIN
this Commonwealth on the fourth Ihurs-
day in May. 1887, at the polling places III
the counties. cities. and towns Oh tnS ne
State, to open polls for the purpose Oh
taking the sense of the people upon TINS
question: Shall there be a convention 10
revise the Constitution and amend tne
same| and all persons quailtled 10 o, VII
for the members of the General Assembly,
shall be permitted to vote thereon.
THE polls to be opened shall contain
two columns, and shall be headed on tng
one side of the poll-book thus; 'Snali
there be a convention TO revise the Con-
stitution and amend the sameE ConFeh-
ton: no convention.
Section 10 of the amended Dailot law,
Acts 1856 page 769, approved the same
day-namely March T. 1S96-orders: AND
when the election is TO be held TO ascer-
tain the sense of the quallned voters OF
or district, or district of any bounty. upon
any question submitted TO them by law,
1t shall be the duty of the electoral boards
Of the county or city. or or the county III
which said town or district IS. as the
case may be- TO have the words printed
upon the ticket directed by the law sub
hitting said question. but In >all otner
respects said elections shall conform TO
the provisions of this act
The electoral boards OF the various
counties and cities OF the State must
provide the ballots 10 be used. and TINS
will be done by having printed upon the
ballots to be prepared for the approach
ing May elections in separate lines the
words:
Convention.
mo convention.
when the voter prepares his ballot
on election-day az he wills and prefers,
he will strike out one Of these words.
and thereby vote upon the question
submitted by the Legislature. his ballot
be received, then canVaSsed, counted.
certified, and returned by the judges OF
election I'm the manner and form pre-
scribed by and set out In sections 2 and
of this act. Very respectfully,
"R. TAYLOR SCOTT.
Attorney