30-19.9 - Distribution of information on proposed constitutional amendments to voters.
§ 30-19.9. Distribution of information on proposed constitutional amendmentsto voters.
When a proposed amendment is to be submitted to the people for their approvaland ratification pursuant to Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution ofVirginia and § 30-19, the State Board of Elections shall cause to be printedand distributed to the general registrar of each county and city, not lessthan ninety days prior to the election, copies of an explanation of suchamendment to be placed at each registration site in sufficient number toprovide a copy to any interested person, and to election officials to beposted at the polling places on the day of the election. The State Boardshall post the explanation on its site on the Internet. It also shall causesuch explanation to be published by paid advertisement in each dailynewspaper with an average daily circulation of more than 50,000 in Virginia,and published in Virginia or in a contiguous state or district, once duringthe week preceding the final day for registration and once during the weekpreceding the election at which the proposed amendment is to be presented tothe people.
The explanation shall contain the ballot question, the full text of theproposed constitutional amendment, and a statement of not more than 500 wordson the proposed amendment. The explanation shall be presented in plainEnglish, shall be limited to a neutral explanation, which may include a briefstatement on the effect of a "yes" and "no" vote on the question butshall not include arguments submitted by either proponents or opponents ofthe proposal. The Division of Legislative Services, in consultation with suchagencies of state government as may be appropriate, including the Office ofAttorney General, shall prepare an explanation for any such proposal which isapproved by the General Assembly on first reference and referred to the nextregular session of the General Assembly following the general election ofmembers of the House of Delegates. The explanation shall be approved fordistribution as to form and content by the Committee on Privileges andElections of the first house of introduction of the resolution proposing theamendment as soon as practicable after enactment of the ballot question.
Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not affectthe validity of the constitutional amendment.
(1987, c. 311; 1999, c. 589; 2001, c. 1.)