Case Name: In the Matter of Frank C. Moore, Appellant, against Michael F. Walsh, as Secretary of State of the State of New York, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1941-10-27
Citations: 286 N.Y. 552
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Frank C. Moore, Appellant, against Michael F. Walsh, as Secretary of State of the State of New York, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 286
Pages: 552–558

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Frank C. Moore, Appellant, against Michael F. Walsh, as Secretary of State of the State of New York, Respondent.
Argued October 27, 1941;
decided October 27, 1941.
Kenneth S. MacAffer, Borden H. Mills and Herbert Brownell, Jr., for appellant.
If the Election Law (Cons. Laws, ch. 17) is construed to prevent the filing of an independent nominating petition or certificate for the office of Comptroller of the State at the forthcoming general election, it is to that extent unconstitutional and void. (Matter of Burke v. Terry, 203 N. Y. 293; Matter of Hopper v. Britt, 203 N. Y. 144; 204 N. Y. 524; People ex rel. Hotchkiss v. Smith, 206 N. Y. 231; Matter of Callahan, 200 N. Y. 59; Matter of Lauer v. Board of Elections, 262 N. Y. 416.)
John J. Bennett, Jr., Attorney-General (Henry Epstein of counsel), for respondent.
The determination made by the Secretary of State was proper. (Matter of Mellon v. Board of Elections, 262 N. Y. 422; Matter of Peel v. Cohen, 265 N. Y. 312.)

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The Election Law (Cons. Laws, ch. 17) is not open to any construction which would permit nominations by independent groups to fill vacancies described in section 131, subdivision 7. Since any statute which provides for an election where only political parties can make nominations is in violation of the State Constitution, the provisions of section 42 of the Public Officers Law (Cons. Laws, ch. 47) are to that extent void. (Matter of Burke v. Terry, 203 N. Y. 293.) It follows that no election for the office of Comptroller can be held this year.
The order should be affirmed, without costs.