Case Name: Roy COLEMAN, Petitioner, v. SEQUOYAH COUNTY ELECTION BOARD, Respondent, and Wade Stovall, Intervenor
Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
Decision Date: 1988-09-15
Citations: 762 P.2d 935
Docket Number: No. 71661
Parties: Roy COLEMAN, Petitioner, v. SEQUOYAH COUNTY ELECTION BOARD, Respondent, and Wade Stovall, Intervenor.
Judges: DOOLIN, C.J., HARGRAVE, V.C.J., and HODGES, LAVENDER, SIMMS, OPALA, ALMA WILSON and SUMMERS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Pacific Reporter 2d
Volume: 762
Pages: 935–936

Head Matter:
Roy COLEMAN, Petitioner, v. SEQUOYAH COUNTY ELECTION BOARD, Respondent, and Wade Stovall, Intervenor.
No. 71661.
Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
Sept. 15, 1988.

Opinion:
ORDER
Original jurisdiction is assumed.
There are no common law pre-election remedies to challenge the qualifications of a candidate for public office. The Legislature has provided in 26 O.S.1981 § 5-118 the exclusive method for a candidate to contest the candidacy of any other candidate. Murphy v. Darnell, 268 P.2d 860 (Okl.1954). A petition pursuant to § 5-118 must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second day following the close of the filing period. 26 O.S.1981 § 5-119. A petition for irregularities pursuant to 26 O.S.1981 § 8-120 may not be used by the petitioner as an alternative remedy to 26 O.S.1981 § 5-118. The petitioner's petition filed three days after the primary election and contesting the candidacy of another candidate for the same office is untimely. 26 O.S.1981 § 5-119. The application for a writ of mandamus and/or prohibition is denied.
DOOLIN, C.J., HARGRAVE, V.C.J., and HODGES, LAVENDER, SIMMS, OPALA, ALMA WILSON and SUMMERS, JJ., concur.
KAUGER, J., disqualified.