<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>353961</law_id><section_number>21-226</section_number><catch_line>Ordering and conduct of elections</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>21-232</reference><reference>21-270</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="58" identifier="21">Drainage, Soil Conservation, Sanitation and Public Facilities Districts</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="4">Sanitation Districts Law of 1946 -- Nontidal Waters</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every <span class="dictionary">order</span> made pursuant to this chapter requiring the opening of a poll and the taking of the sense of the qualified voters of a <span class="dictionary">district</span> or proposed sanitation <span class="dictionary">district</span> on a question shall designate the question and a date for holding such election not less than thirty days from the date of such <span class="dictionary">order</span>, and may be directed as <span class="dictionary">writs</span> of election are directed for an election <span class="dictionary">district</span>, or to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly or in Congress. It shall be the duty of the regular election officers of the counties and cities in whole or in part embraced within the <span class="dictionary">district</span> or proposed sanitation <span class="dictionary">district</span> to cause to be printed and distributed in the manner prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> for printing and distributing other ballots the proper number of ballots which shall be separate from any other ballots. The ballots shall set forth the question designated in such <span class="dictionary">order</span> and shall be in substantially the following form:</p><p>(Here shall appear the question designated in the <span class="dictionary">order</span>)</p><p>[ ] YES</p><p>[ ] NO</p><p>To vote &#x201C;Yes&#x201D; on the question, place a checkmark (&#x2713;) or cross (+ or &#x2717;) in the space opposite the word &#x201C;Yes&#x201D;; to vote &#x201C;No&#x201D; on the question, place a checkmark (&#x2713;) or cross (+ or &#x2717;) in the space opposite the word &#x201C;No.&#x201D;</p><p>The regular election officers, at the time designated in such <span class="dictionary">order</span>, shall open the polls at the various voting places in the <span class="dictionary">district</span> or proposed sanitation <span class="dictionary">district</span> and at any other voting places at which any qualified voter of the <span class="dictionary">district</span> or proposed sanitation <span class="dictionary">district</span> is entitled to vote, and shall conduct such election and close the polls in such manner as is provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span> in other elections. The ballots shall be counted and returns made and canvassed and the results ascertained and made known as in other elections, and the results certified by the commissioners of election to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, all in such manner as to show the respective numbers of affirmative and negative votes cast at the election. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall record and tabulate the reports of the commissioners of election and shall certify the result of the election to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> which made the <span class="dictionary">order</span> authorizing and requiring such election.</p></section></text><history>1946, p. 364; Michie Suppl. 1946, &#xA7; 1560iii25.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
