CHAPTER 565
An Act to amend Chapter 193 of the Acts of Assembly of 1950, which provided a charter for the City of Martinsville, by adding in Chapter 13 a section numbered 8, relating to change to town status; referendum.
[H 1511]
Approved April 5, 2024
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That Chapter 193 of the Acts of Assembly of 1950 is amended by adding in Chapter 13 a section numbered 8 as follows:
§ 8. Vote on change to town status.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 41 (§ 15.2-4100 et seq.) of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia, the circuit court for the City of Martinsville, prior to notifying the Supreme Court pursuant to § 15.2-4101 of the Code of Virginia of the City's adoption of an ordinance and petition for an order granting town status to the City pursuant to such chapter, shall first require an election to be held as provided in this section.
(b) The court shall, in accordance with general law, require the regular election officers of the City, at the next eligible November general election, to open a poll and take the sense of the qualified voters of the City on the question submitted as hereinafter provided. The regular election officers shall conduct the election as provided by general law, insofar as is applicable. The ballot shall contain the following question:
"Question: Shall the City of Martinsville become a town?"
(c) The ballots shall be prepared, distributed, and voted, and the results of the election shall be ascertained and certified, in the manner prescribed by § 24.2-684 of the Code of Virginia. If it appears by the report certified by the secretary of the electoral board that a majority of the qualified voters of the City voting on the question are in favor of the transition from city to town status, the special court shall enter the order granting town status in accordance with the procedures, requirements, and provisions of Chapter 41 (§ 15.2-4100 et seq.) of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia. All other provisions of such chapter shall continue to be applicable.