suspend the registration of voters, or the acceptance of changes in registrations for such period, not exceeding thirty days, next preceding any election as it may deem necessary and appropriate.

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

SEC. 908. The candidates at an election in the District shall be the persons, registered under section 907 of this Act or under section 7 of the District Primary Act, who have been nominated as provided in section 909 of this Act: Provided, That no member of the Board of Elections may be such a candidate.

NOMINATIONS

SEC. 909. (a) Nomination of a candidate shall take place when the Board of Elections receives a petition in accordance with rules, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribed by the Board either—

(1) a declaration of candidacy accompanied by a filing fee equal to 5 per centum of the annual compensation for which nomination is sought; said fee to be refunded—

(A) if the candidate withdraws his candidacy in writing received by the Board not more than three days after the last day on which nominations may be made; or

(B) if the candidate polls 10 per centum or more of the total vote cast for that office; or

(2) a nominating petition signed by the number of registered voters specified below, without payment of a filing fee: Provided

(A) that any petition for a candidate for the office of District Delegate be signed by six hundred qualified electors registered in the District, and

(B) that any petition for a candidate for the District Council be signed by three hundred qualified electors registered in the ward from which he is nominated for such office.

(b) No person may be a candidate for more than one office in any election. If a person is nominated for more than one office, he shall, within three days after the last day on which nominations may be made (as prescribed by the Board of Elections), notify the Board of Elections for which such office he elects to run.

(c) The Board of Elections is authorized to accept any nominating petition as bona fide with respect to the qualifications of the signatories thereto : Provided, That the originals or facsimile copies thereof shall have been posted in a suitable public place for at least ten days: And provided further, That no challenge as to the qualifications of the signatories shall have been received in writing by the Board of Elections within ten days of first posting of such petition. (d) The Board of Elections may, at its discretion, declare elected, without an actual count of the votes cast, any unopposed candidate.

NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS

SEC. 910. (a) Ballots and voting machines shall show no party affiliations, emblem, or slogan.

(b) Section 16 of the Act entitled "An Act to prevent pernicious political activities", approved August 2, 1939 (53 Stat. 1147), is amended by inserting immediately after "exists in" the following: "the District of Columbia or".

METHOD OF VOTING

SEC. 911. (a) Voting in all elections shall be secret. Voting may be by paper ballot or voting machine.

(b) The ballot shall show the wards from which each candidate (other than for District Delegate and Mayor) has been nominated. Each voter shall be entitled to vote for nine candidates for the District Council, not more than three from each ward; for nine candidates for the Board of Education, not more than three from each ward; for one candidate for Mayor and for one candidate for District Delegate. No person shall be a candidate from more than one ward.

(c) The ballot of a person who is registered as a resident of the District shall be valid only if cast in the voting precinct where the residence shown on his registration is located.

(d) Absentee balloting shall be permitted under regulations adopted by the Board of Elections.

(e) At least ten days prior to the date of any referendum or election, any group of citizens or individual candidates interested in the outcome of the election may petition the Board of Elections for credentials authorizing watchers at any and all polling places during the voting hours and until the count has been completed. The Board of Elections shall formulate rules and regula tions, not inconsistent with provisions of this title, to prescribe the form of watchers' credentials, to govern their conduct, and to limit the number of watchers so that the conduct of the election will not be unreasonably obstructed. (f) If the official in charge of the polling place, after hearing both parties to any such challenge or acting on his own initiative with respect to a prospective voter, reasonably believes the prospective voter is unqualified to vote, he shall allow the voter to cast a paper ballot marked "challenged." Ballots so cast shall be segregated, and no such ballot shall be counted until the challenge has been removed as provided in subsection (g).

(g) If a person has been permitted to vote only by challenged ballot, such person, or any qualified candidate, may appeal to the Board of Elections within three days after election day. The Board shall decide within seven days after the appeal is perfected whether the voter was qualified to vote. If the Board decides that the voter was qualified to vote, the word "challenged" shall be stricken from the voter's ballot and the ballot shall be treated as if it had not been challenged.

(h) If a voter is physically unable to mark his ballot or operate the voting machine, the official in charge of the voting place may enter the voting booth with him and vote as directed. Upon the request of any such voter, a second election official may enter the voting booth to assist in the voting. The officials shall tell no one what votes were cast. The official in charge of the voting place shall make a return to all such voters, giving their names and disabilities.

(i) A voter shall vote only once with respect to each office to be filled. (j) Copies of the regulations of the Board of Elections with respect to voting shall be made available to prospective voters at each polling place.

(k) Before being allowed to vote the voter shall sign a certificate, on a form to be prescribed by the Board of Elections, that he has duly registered under the election laws of the District and that, to his best knowledge and belief, he has not since such registration done any act which might disqualify him as an elector.

RECOUNTS AND CONTESTS

SEC. 912. (a) The provisions of section 11 of the District Primary Act with respect to recounts and contests shall be applicable to any election or referendum held under this Act, except that in the case of a referendum any qualified voter who has voted in such referendum may petition the Board of Elections for a recount of the votes cast in one or more precincts under the same conditions required of a candidate for office under section 11(a) of the District Primary Act. These provisions shall be applicable to the referenda held under titles VI, XV, and XVII of this Act notwithstanding the fact that the provisions of this title do not otherwise take effect unless the charter referendum provided in title XV is adopted.

(b) If the court voids all or part of an election under this section, and if it determines that the number and importance of the matters involved outweigh the cost and practical disadvantages of holding another election, it may order a special election for the purpose of voting on the matters with respect to which the election was declared void.

(c) Special elections shall be conducted in a manner comparable to that prescribed for regular elections and at times and in the manner prescribed by the Board of Elections by regulation. A person elected at such an election shall take office on the day following the date on which the Board of Election certifies the results of the election.

(d) Vacancies resulting from voiding all or part of an election shall be filled as prescribed in section 904.

INTERFERENCE WITH REGISTRATION OR VOTING

SEC. 913. (a) No one shall interfere with the registration or voting of another person, except as it may be reasonably necessary in the performance of a duty imposed by law. No person performing such duty shall interfere with the

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registration or voting of another person because of his race, color, sex, or religious belief, or his want of property or income.

(b) No registered voter shall be required to perform a military duty on election day which would prevent him from voting, except in time of war or public danger or unless he is away from the District in military service. No registered voter may be arrested while voting or going to vote except for a breach of the peace then committed or for treason or felony.

VIOLATIONS

SEC. 914. Whoever willfully violates any provision of this title, or of any regulation prescribed and published by the Board of Elections under authority of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

TITLE X-MISCELLANEOUS

AGREEMENTS WITH UNITED STATES

SEC. 1001. (a) For the purpose of preventing duplication of effort or of otherwise promoting efficiency and economy any Federal officer or agency may furnish services to the District government and any District officer or agency may furnish services to the Federal Government. Except where the terms and conditions governing the furnishing of such services are prescribed by other provisions of law, such services shall be furnished pursuant to a contract (1) negotiated by the Federal and District authorities concerned, and (2) approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget and by the Mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the District Council. Each such contract shall provide that the cost of furnishing such services shall be borne in the manner provided in subsection (c) by the Government to which such services are furnished at rates or charges based on the actual cost of furnishing such services.

(b) For the purpose of carrying out any contract negotiated and approved pursuant to subsection (a), any District officer or agency may in the contract delegate any of his or its function to any Federal officer or agency, and any Federal officer or agency may in the contract delegate any of his or its functions to any District officer or agency. Any function so delegated may be exercised in accordance with the terms of the delegation.

(c) The costs to each Federal officer and agency in furnishing services to the District pursuant to any such contract shall be paid, in accordance with the terms of the contract, out of appropriations made by the District Council to the District officers and agencies to which such services are furnished. The costs to each District officer and agency in furnishing services to the Federal Government pursuant to any such contract shall be paid, in accordance with the terms of the contract, out of appropriations made by the Congress to the Federal officers and agencies to which such services are furnished.

PERSONAL INTEREST IN CONTRACTS OR TRANSACTIONS

SEC. 1002. No member of the District Council and no other officer or employee of the District with power of discretion in the making of any contract to which the District is a party or in the sale to the District or to a contractor supplying the District of any land or rights or interests in any land, material, supplies, or services shall have a financial interest, direct or indirect, in such contract or sale. Any willful violation of this section shall constitute malfeasance in office, and any officer or employee of the District found guilty thereof shall thereby forfeit his office or position. Any violation of this section with the knowledge express or implied of the person contracting with the District shall render the contract voidable by the Mayor or the District Council.

COMPENSATION FROM MORE THAN ONE SOURCE

SEC. 1003. (a) Except as provided in this Act, no person shall be ineligible to serve or to receive compensation as a member of the District Council, the Board of Education, or the Board of Elections because he occupies another office or position or because he receives compensation (including retirement compensation) from another source.

(b) The right to another office or position or to compensation from another source otherwise secured to such a person under the laws of the United States shall not be abridged by the fact of his service or receipt of compensation as a member of the District Council or either such Board, if such service does not interfere with the discharge of his duties in such other office or position.

(c) For the purpose of sections 281, 283, 284, 434, and 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code and section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U.S.C. 99), no person shall, by reason of membership on the District Council, the Board of Education, or the Board of Elections or by reason of his serving in any position in or under the government of the District of Columbia, be considered to be an officer or employee of the United States.

ASSISTANCE OF UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT MERIT SYSTEM

SEC. 1004. The United States Civil Service Commission is hereby authorized to advise and assist the Mayor and the District Council in the further development of the merit system required by section 402 (3) and the said Commission is authorized to enter into agreements with the District of Columbia government to make available its registers of eligibles as a recruiting source to fill District positions as needed. The costs of any specific services furnished by the Civil Service Commission may be compensated for under the provisions of section 1001 of this Act.

TITLE XI-SUCCESSION IN GOVERNMENT

TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL, PROPERTY, AND FUNDS

SEC. 1101. (a) In each case of the transfer, by any provision of this Act, of functions to any agency or officer, there are hereby transferred (as of the time of such transfer of functions) to such agency or to the agency of which such officer is the head, for use in the administration of the functions of such agency or officer, the personnel (except the members of boards or commissions abolished by this Act), property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations and other funds, which relate primarily to the functions so transferred.

(b) If any question arises in connection with the carrying out of subsection (a), such question shall be decided

(1) in the case of functions transferred from a Federal officer or agency, by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget; and

(2) in the case of other functions (A) by the District Council, or in such manner as the District Council shall provide, if such functions are transferred to the District Council or to the Board of Education, and (B) by the Mayor if such functions are transferred to any other officer or agency. (c) Any of the personnel transferred to any agency by this section which the head of such agency shall find to be in excess of the personnel necessary for the administration of his or its functions shall, in accordance with law, be retransferred to other positions in the District or Federal Government or be separated from the service.

(d) No officer or employee shall, by reason of his transfer by this Act, be deprived of a civil-service status held by him prior to such transfer.

EXISTING STATUTES, REGULATIONS, AND SO FORTH

SEC. 1102. (a) Any statute, regulation, or other action in respect of (and any regulation or other action issued, made, taken, or granted by) any officer or agency from which any function is transferred by this Act shall, except to the extent modified or made inapplicable by or under authority of law, continue in effect as if such transfer had not been made; but after such transfer references in such statute, regulation, or other action to an officer or agency from which a transfer is made by this Act shall be held and considered to refer to the officer or agency to which the transfer is made.

(b) As used in subsection (a), the term "other action" includes any rule, order, contract, policy, determination, directive, grant, authorization, permit, requirement, or designation.

(c) Unless otherwise specifically provided, nothing contained in this Act shall be construed as affecting the applicability to the District of Columbia govern

FUNCTIONS AND LIMITATIONS

SEC. 803. (a) Subject to the provisions of section 321, the Board of Education shall

(1) determine appropriate policies for the District with respect to the maintenance and operation of public schools;

(2) appoint the Superintendent of Schools;

(3) prescribe such regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this title, as may be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the operation of this title; and

(4) appoint such standing and special committees, and allocate to them such duties, as may be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the operation of this title.

(b) In contracting with any person to serve as Superintendent of Schools of the District, the Board of Education shall not obligate the District for a period longer than the three-year period commencing on the date of contracting. Each contract shall reserve to the Board the right to remove the incumbent for cause. (c) Final action by the Board of Education shall not be taken on any proposed regulation until the thirteenth day following the day in which it was submitted; but the Board of Education may take earlier final action at a regular meeting, or at a special meeting for which reasonable notice has been given, upon vote of two-thirds of the members present.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOLDING OFFICE

SEC. 804. No person shall hold the office of member of the Board of Education unless he (1) is a qualified elector, (2) resides and is domiciled in the ward from which he is nominated, has, during the three years next preceding his nomination resided and been domiciled in the District, and has for one year preceding his nomination, resided and been domiciled in the ward from which he is nominated (3) holds no other elective public office, and (4) holds no appointive office for which compensation is provided out of District funds. A member of the Board of Education shall forfeit his office upon failure to maintain the qualifications required by this section,

COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS

SEC. 805. Members of the Board of Education shall receive $20 per meeting attended.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

SEC. 806. (a) The Board of Education shall elect from among its members a presiding officer, to be known as the "President of the Board of Education”. The term of the first such president shall expire at the close of December 31, 1966, and at the close of December 31 of each succeeding even-numbered year the term of office of the incumbent president shall expire. The Board of Education may by resolution remove the President of the Board of Education from his office as such.

(b) The President of the Board of Education shall, with the approval of the Board, designate a member of the Board to act as president during his absence or disability. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the Board shall elect from among its members a president for the unexpired term.

SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION; RECORDS

SEC. 807. (a) The Board of Education shall appoint a secretary who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and such assistants and clerical personnel as may be necessary.

(m) The secretary shall keep a full record of the proceedings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

MEETINGS

SEC. 808. (a) The first meeting of the Board of Education after this section takes effect shall be called by the member who receives the highest vote in the election provided by title IX. He shall preside until a president is elected. The first meeting of the Board in each odd-numbered year commencing with 1965 shall be called by the secretary of the Board for a date not later than January 31 of each year.