reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 2-17-105 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-105. Time for Filing Complaint

 The complaint contesting an election under § 2-17-101 shall be filed within five (5) days after certification of the election.
TN Code § 2-17-106 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-106. Time of Trial — Service of Process

  The trial of an election contest shall be held not less than fifteen (15) nor more than fifty (50) days from the day the complaint is filed and not less than ten (10) days after the complaint is served on the defendant.   A sheriff or constable of the division or circuit shall serve a copy of the complaint on the defendant and make return to the court.
TN Code § 2-17-107 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-107. Testimony and Orders

 The testimony in an election contest may be taken orally or by deposition, upon such notice as the court may prescribe, and the court may make all necessary orders with respect to any matter required in the contest.
TN Code § 2-17-108 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-108. Witnesses

 The clerk of the court may, upon the application of either party, issue subpoenas for witnesses, and the witnesses summoned shall be bound under the same penalties as witnesses in the circuit court to attend and give evidence, and for such attendance shall be allowed the same compensation.
TN Code § 2-17-109 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-109. Poll Books, Voter Signature Lists and Ballot Applications as Evidence

  Poll books, voter signature lists and ballot applications, or copies of them, certified by the officer having custody of them, are official records and shall be received as evidence in any case arising out of the election. They may be impeached by other evidence.   If the poll books, voter signature lists and ballot applications or copies of them are not certified, they may nonetheless be proved by other credible evidence and received as evidence in an election contest.
TN Code § 2-17-110 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-110. Voting Machine as Evidence

  If voting machines were used in the election, any party to the contest who challenges either the accuracy of the voting machines or the accuracy of the election officials' recording of the vote on the machines may have the machine or machines brought into court to be examined by the parties or as evidence.   The total votes shown on the machine shall be conclusive unless the court finds reason to believe that the vote shown on the machine is not accurate.
TN Code § 2-17-111 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-111. Minutes of Proceedings

 The clerk of the court shall keep minutes of the proceedings in contested election cases as in other cases.
TN Code § 2-17-112 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-112. Judgment

  After hearing the case, the court shall give judgment either:  Confirming the election;   Declaring the election void;   Declaring a tie between persons who have the same number of votes if it appears that two (2) or more persons who have the same number of votes have, or would have had if the ballots intended for them and illegally rejected had been received, the highest number of votes for the office; or   Declaring a person duly elected if it appears that such person received or would have received the highest number of votes had the ballots intended for such person and illegally rejected been received.     A judgment under subdivision (a)(4) deprives the person whose election is contested of all right or claim to the office and invests the person declared by the judgment duly elected with the right to the office.
TN Code § 2-17-113 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-113. Election Declared Void

 If the person whose election is contested is found to have received the highest number of legal votes, but the election is declared null by reason of constitutional disqualifications on that person's part or for other causes, the election shall be declared void.
TN Code § 2-17-114 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-114. Certification of Judgment

  A judgment confirming an election or declaring a person elected to an office commissioned by the governor shall be certified to the secretary of state. In all other cases, the judgment shall be certified to the tribunal before which the officer is required to qualify.   A judgment declaring a tie shall be certified to the officer or body entitled to cast the deciding vote, if any, and, if none, to the officer or body authorized to fill the vacancy or order a new election.   A judgment declaring an election void shall be certified to the officer or body authorized to fill the vacancy or order a new election.
TN Code § 2-17-115 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-115. Malicious or Frivolous Contests

 Costs and a reasonable attorney's fee shall be assessed against the contestant or the appellant if the contest or the appeal is maliciously or frivolously prosecuted.
TN Code § 2-17-117 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 17 - Contested Elections|§ 2-17-117. Circumstances Justifying Recount — Determining Procedure for Recount

  Any court, primary board, legislative body, or tribunal having jurisdiction of an election contest pursuant to this chapter may order a recount of the ballots under any of the following circumstances:  A tie vote;   An indication of fraud if the number of votes affected would be sufficient to change the result of the election;   A malfunction of a voting machine or tabulator if the number of votes affected would be sufficient to change the result of the election; or   In any other instance the court or body with jurisdiction of a contested election finds that a recount is warranted.     Any recount ordered by this section shall be a complete recount of all ballots cast in such election.   The court or body with jurisdiction of a contested election shall determine if the recount shall be conducted by hand or with automated tabulators.
TN Code § 2-18-101 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-101. Determination by General Assembly

 The procedure for deciding the election of governor in case of contest shall be: The two (2) houses of the general assembly shall, on a day of its organizational session designated by joint resolution, meet in joint convention in the hall of the house of representatives to open the returns of the election for governor, to determine the election, and to declare the result.
TN Code § 2-18-102 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-102. Quorum — Vote — Adoption of Rules of Order — Power to Compel Attendance

  A majority of the members of each house shall constitute a quorum. The speaker of the senate shall preside.   Every member shall have one (1) vote, and the majority of the votes shall prevail on all questions to be determined by the joint convention.   The joint session may be adjourned from time to time and rules of order made by it may be adopted and altered.   A minority of the members of the joint convention shall have the power to compel the attendance of absentees by arrest on warrant issued and signed by the speaker of the senate, executed by the sergeant-at-arms of the senate or by any person authorized by the joint convention.
TN Code § 2-18-103 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-103. Tellers

 Before the joint session, each house shall appoint two (2) tellers from different political parties. The tellers shall keep, certify, and deliver to the speaker of the senate a list of the votes in the joint convention.
TN Code § 2-18-104 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-104. Examination of Election Returns

  When the joint assembly has convened, the speaker of the senate shall, in the presence of the assembled members, open the returns of the election for governor. They shall be opened by counties in alphabetical order. As the returns of a county are opened, they shall be handed to the tellers who shall make a list of the votes. Any member may inspect the returns while they are in the tellers' hands. The returns shall then be handed back to the speaker of the senate, who shall read them to the assembled members.   As the returns from each county are read, the speaker shall call for objections by claimants of the office of governor other than the candidate who prevails on the face of the returns. Upon objection to any county's returns, the vote of that county shall not then be counted, but the returns shall, with the objections, be delivered to the speaker for safekeeping, and they shall not be further considered until all the counties have been disposed of in like manner.   If no objections are made, the vote of the county under consideration shall be counted and shall be final except for objections permitted under § 2-18-106.
TN Code § 2-18-105 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-105. Aggregate Vote When No Objection — Resolution of Election

  After the returns of all the counties have been considered, if there is no objection by any claimant, the aggregate vote shall be announced by the speaker of the senate, and the person having the highest number of votes shall then be declared to be elected by resolution, which shall be in order and passed in substantially this form: “Resolved, That  , having the highest number of votes at the election in November last, has been elected and shall be Governor of Tennessee.”   If it appears to the convention that the result would not be changed if all objections were sustained, the person having the highest number of votes shall be declared elected as in subsection (a).
TN Code § 2-18-106 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-106. Committee on the Governor's Election

  If it appears to the convention that to sustain any of the objections would change the result, a committee shall be appointed as the “Committee on the Governor's Election” and the candidate who prevails on the face of the returns shall then be permitted to file objections as were the other claimants.   The committee shall be composed of seven (7) members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than four (4) of whom may belong to the same political party, and five (5) members of the senate, appointed by the speaker of the senate, not more than three (3) of whom may belong to the same political party.   Vacancies in the committee from death or other causes shall be filled by appointment by the speaker of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives who appointed the original member.   They shall elect one (1) of their number chair.   Any seven (7) shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of a subcommittee shall constitute a quorum thereof.
TN Code § 2-18-107 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-107. Presence of Candidates — Objections and Petitions — Answer

  All persons receiving votes for governor and their attorneys may be present on the floor during the call of counties but only for the purpose of filing objections.   When an objection is made, it shall be followed by a petition stating the grounds of objection clearly and concisely, making specific assignment of the grounds relied on other than the face of the returns, designating the counties, civil districts, wards, and precincts, with specifications as to the irregularities, fraud, error, mistake or illegalities relied upon. The petition shall be filed with the speaker or tellers, not later than the day following the day on which the call of the counties has been concluded.   A copy of the petition of objection shall be served upon each claimant or left at the claimant's usual place of residence, within five (5) days after the filing of the petition, which service shall be sufficient. The copy may be served by the sergeant-at-arms of the senate or house of representatives or one (1) of the assistants of either, by any sheriff or the sheriff's deputy, or by any private person, but if served by a private person, the return showing service shall be on oath in writing.    Within five (5) days after the service of the copy, each person, other than the petitioner, claiming the office of governor by virtue of the election may file with the speaker or tellers an answer making specific assignments of the grounds relied upon and making counter-objections other than to the face of the returns, designating the counties, civil districts, wards, and precincts, with specifications as to the irregularities, fraud, error, mistake, or illegalities relied upon.   The answer shall include specific denials of such assignments of charges by the petitioner as they may see proper.   All charges not denied shall be taken as true.   A copy of each answer shall be served on each claimant as in the case of the petition.
TN Code § 2-18-108 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-108. Specific Denials to Answer

  The petitioner shall, within two (2) days from the filing of an answer containing counter-objections, file such specific denials thereto as the petitioner may see proper. All charges not denied shall be taken as true.   A copy of the petitioner's answer shall be served on each claimant as in the case of the petition.
TN Code § 2-18-109 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-109. Powers and Duties of Committee

  The objections, petitions and answers shall be referred to the committee.   The committee shall take evidence and consider the objections.   The committee and any subcommittee of it may:  Send for and examine persons and papers;   Issue compulsory process for them running to every county in the state, which may be executed by the sergeant-at-arms of either house or any assistant sergeant-at-arms, or by any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or constable, or by any special agent appointed by the chair of the committee or by the chair of any subcommittee;   Punish for contempt by fine and imprisonment;   Employ stenographers;   Sit for the taking of evidence at any place in Tennessee and, when in their judgment necessary, in four (4) subcommittees;   Take depositions upon such notice and under such rules and regulations as they may prescribe in the absence of rules prescribed by the general assembly;   Fix the time in which the evidence in chief and rebuttal shall be produced or taken and the time for argument; and   Do all things proper and necessary to ascertain the facts and report on them.     The evidence shall be taken within the forty (40) days next after the issues are made except that, if within forty (40) days the committee on the governor's election asks for further time, the general assembly may grant it.
TN Code § 2-18-110 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-110. Petition and Answer to Be Verified — Oaths

  The petition and answer shall be sworn to and stated to be true to the best of the person's knowledge, information and belief. The pleading shall make the issues but shall have no weight as evidence.   The chair of the committee and the chairs of subcommittees may administer oaths to witnesses.
TN Code § 2-18-111 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-111. Adjournment Pending Determination of Objections

 Pending the determination of objections, the two (2) houses may, from time to time, adjourn the joint convention, and resolve themselves into their respective houses, and they may proceed as if no such proceedings were pending. The adjournment may be to a day certain or subject to the call of the speaker of the senate.
TN Code § 2-18-112 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-112. Report of Committee

 The committee shall proceed with all convenient speed to file its report with the speaker of the senate. The evidence shall accompany the report.
TN Code § 2-18-113 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-113. Consideration of Report

  When the report has been made, the speaker of the senate shall cause the members of both houses to be notified, in open session of each house, that the report has been made. The speaker of the senate shall fix the day for the consideration of the report.   The members of both houses shall then assemble and consider the report and determine the election. They shall decide the questions involved and determine which person received the highest number of legal votes. A faithful and correct record of all the proceedings of the joint assembly shall be kept by the clerk of the senate, which, together with the reports of the committee, shall be entered upon the journal of the senate.
TN Code § 2-18-114 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-114. Announcement of Aggregate Vote — Declaration of Election by Resolution

 Upon the decision, the speaker of the senate shall announce the aggregate vote of the persons voted for as corrected and determined by the joint assembly. The person having the highest number shall be declared to be elected by resolution as under § 2-18-105.
TN Code § 2-18-115 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-115. Resolution Evidence of Election — Inauguration

  The resolution shall be the evidence that the person named in the resolution has been elected governor and is entitled to be inaugurated. A copy of the resolution certified by the speaker of the senate and the tellers shall be issued to such person.   The governor-elect shall thereafter be inaugurated as soon as practicable, on a day to be designated by resolution of the general assembly. The oath of office shall be administered by the chief justice or an associate judge of the supreme court in the presence of the general assembly or a committee appointed by them.   The governor's term of office shall date from January 15 next following the November in which the election was held.
TN Code § 2-18-116 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-116. Finality of Determination

 When the general assembly has determined the contest for governor under this chapter, the determination is final and conclusive.
TN Code § 2-18-117 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 18 - Contested Election of Governor|§ 2-18-117. Bond — Enforcement of Penalty

  A claimant, before making objection under § 2-18-104, shall enter into bond and good security to be approved by the speakers of the senate and house of representatives, in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), payable to the state of Tennessee, conditioned upon the faithful and bona fide prosecution of the contest.    If no bond is filed for approval with the speaker of the senate by twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on December 15 after the election, there may be no contest of the election.   If a bond is filed by that time, other claimants may file their bonds until twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the seventh day after the first bond is filed.     The penalty of the bond shall not be enforced against a contestant and the contestant's securities unless the joint assembly concludes that the contest was not in good faith, was malicious, was made for political effect or was without reasonable cause, in which case the joint assembly shall so declare and order the enforcement of the penalty of the bond.
TN Code § 2-20-101 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 20 - Tennessee Voter Confidence Act|§ 2-20-101. Utilization of Precinct-Based Optical Scanners

  A county election commission may utilize precinct-based optical scanners.   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:  “Precinct-based optical scanner” means an optical ballot scanner that is located in the precinct and into which optical scan voter-verified paper ballots, marked either by hand by the voter or with the assistance of a device, are inserted to count the voter verified paper ballot;   “Top race” means the presidential race, if the presidential race is on the ballot, or the governor's race, if the governor's race is on the ballot; and   “Voter-verified paper ballot” means a permanent, individual paper ballot that is marked either manually by the voter or with the assistance of a device and verified by the voter as correctly reflecting the voter's intent, before the voter's vote is counted by the precinct-based optical scanner.     It is the intent of the general assembly that any county election commission utilizing a precinct-based optical scanner pursuant to this chapter shall comply in all respects with this chapter and federal law.
TN Code § 2-20-102 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 20 - Tennessee Voter Confidence Act|§ 2-20-102. Voter With Disabilities — Privacy of Ballot

 All voting systems shall meet the minimum federal law requirements with regard to enabling voters with disabilities to complete the voting process in a manner that maintains the privacy of the voter's ballot.
TN Code § 2-20-104 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 2 - Elections|Chapter 20 - Tennessee Voter Confidence Act|§ 2-20-104. Electronic Voting Systems — Rules and Regulations — Testing of Equipment

   All new precinct-based optical scanners purchased or leased pursuant to this chapter:  Shall be certified pursuant to § 2-9-110 and shall have been certified by the election assistance commission as having met the applicable voluntary voting systems guidelines. In addition, the precinct-based optical scanners shall be tested to ensure the scanners operate in accordance with the guidelines; and   Shall, with all relevant documentation, be made available by their vendors, at the request of the state election commission or the secretary of state for review by an independent expert, selected by the state election commission or the secretary of state, to ensure the functionality and security of its systems.     The state coordinator of elections shall enact necessary rules and regulations to require that all required tests are properly conducted on the precinct-based optical scanners as well as requiring a sufficient review be conducted of the precinct-based optical scanners and the relevant documentation to ensure compliance with this subsection (a).     Prior to each election, all precinct-based optical scanners purchased, leased or used by any county election commission pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to acceptance testing by the commission in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state coordinator of elections.   With respect to precinct-based optical scanners purchased or leased pursuant to this chapter, vendors shall provide access to all information required by law, rule or regulation, which shall be placed in escrow with an agent designated by the secretary of state.   No precinct-based optical scanners used in an election in this state shall have any capability, enabled or disabled, for wireless communication of any sort.