reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AL Code § 17-16-56 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-56 - Contest of Election of Judge of Probate Court and Other County and Municipal Officers - Generally.

Section 17-16-56Contest of election of judge of probate court and other county and municipal officers - Generally. If the contest is of an election to the office of judge of the probate court, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, county treasurer, clerk of the circuit court, or any other office filled by the vote of a single county or any subdivision thereof, or any office of a city or town not in this article otherwise provided for, the party contesting must file in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the election was held, a statement in writing, verified by affidavit, of the grounds of the contest as provided in this article and must give good and sufficient security for the costs of the contest, to be approved by the clerk. On the filing of the statement and the giving of the security, the clerk must enter the contest on the trial docket as a civil action pending in the court for trial, and, after having made such entry, the clerk must issue a summons, accompanied by a copy of the statement directed to the party whose election is contested, requiring the party, within five days after the service of the summons, to appear and make answer to the statement, which summons must be served by the sheriff or by a constable, if the contest is with respect to the office of sheriff. The contest is triable by the court without the intervention of a jury and must be heard and tried in precedence of all other cases, civil or criminal, standing for trial in the court. Either party is entitled to the writ of subpoena to compel the personal attendance of witnesses on the trial of the contest, and against defaulting witnesses such proceedings may be had as against other defaulting witnesses in civil cases pending in the court. Testimony may also be taken by depositions in the case, and in like manner as depositions are taken in other civil cases. (Code 1896, §1696; Code 1907, §470; Acts 1911, No. 202, p. 195; Code 1923, §559; Code 1940, T. 17, §245; §17-15-29; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-57 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-57 - Contest of Election of Judge of Probate Court and Other County and Municipal Officers - Court Open at All Times.

Section 17-16-57Contest of election of judge of probate court and other county and municipal officers - Court open at all times. For the purpose of hearing and determining any contest instituted under the provisions of Section 17-16-56, the circuit court shall at all times be open. (Acts 1911, No. 202, p. 195; Code 1923, §560; Code 1940, T. 17, §246; §17-15-30; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-58 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-58 - Ballots May Be Examined.

Section 17-16-58Ballots may be examined. In all contests of elections before the judge of probate or the circuit court, the judge presiding is authorized to make an examination of the ballots given or rejected in the election so far as the judge may deem it necessary to arrive at a correct judgment, and may make and enforce by attachment all necessary orders to obtain possession of the same, and must make all proper orders necessary for the return of the ballots to the proper custody after same have been examined by him or her. (Code 1896, §1699; Code 1907, §473; Code 1923, §563; Code 1940, T. 17, §249; §17-15-31; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-59 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-59 - Judgment of Court.

Section 17-16-59Judgment of court. If, on the trial of the contest of any election, either before the judge of probate or the circuit court, it shall appear that any person other than the one whose election is contested, received or would have received, had the ballots intended for the person and illegally rejected been received, the highest number of legal votes, judgment must be given declaring such person duly elected, and such judgment shall have the force and effect of investing the person thereby declared elected, with full right and title to have and to hold the office to which the person is declared elected. If it appears that two or more persons have, or would have had, if the ballots intended for them and illegally rejected had been received, the highest and equal number of votes for such office, judgment must be entered declaring the fact, and such fact must be certified to the officer having authority to fill vacancies in the office the election to which was contested. If the person whose election is contested is found to be ineligible to the office, judgment must be entered declaring the election void and the fact certified to the appointing power. If the party whose election is contested is found to have been duly and legally elected, judgment must be entered declaring the party entitled to have and to hold the office to which the party was so elected.  (Code 1896, §1700; Code 1907, §474; Code 1923, §564; Code 1940, T. 17, §250; §17-15-32; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-60 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-60 - Contest Not Abated by Death of Contestant.

Section 17-16-60Contest not abated by death of contestant. In all contests of elections, such contests are not abated by the death of the party commencing them before final judgment, if any qualified elector appears in court and substitutes as a contestant and gives good and sufficient security for the costs which have accrued or may accrue on the contest. But if no qualified elector appears and proposes to substitute as the party contesting, the contest abates on the death of the contesting party, and judgment must be rendered against the sureties for the costs of the contest, which must be collected by execution in the name of the party whose election was contested. In all cases the person whose election is contested, if the successful party in such contest, is entitled to judgment for the cost thereof against the party contesting and the sureties, for which execution may issue returnable to the court of probate or to the circuit court, as the case may be.  (Code 1896, §1701; Code 1907, §475; Code 1923, §565; Code 1940, T. 17, §251; §17-15-33; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-61 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-61 - Appeals - Generally.

Section 17-16-61Appeals - Generally. In all contested elections before the judge of probate, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court within 14 days after the rendition of the judgment. From the judgment of the circuit court on the contest of an election of a judge of probate or sheriff or any other officer mentioned in Section 17-16-56, an appeal lies to the Supreme Court within 14 days after the rendition of the judgment.  (Code 1896, §1702; Code 1907, §476; Code 1923, §566; Code 1940, T. 17, §252; §17-15-34; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-62 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-62 - Appeals - Costs.

Section 17-16-62Appeals - Costs. On the taking of an appeal as provided in Section 17-16-61, the appellant must give bond and security for the costs thereof to be approved by the judge of probate or clerk of the circuit court, as the appeal may be taken from the judgment of the judge of probate or circuit court, and the appeal bond must be certified with the record to the appellate court, and if judgment is entered confirming the judgment of the judge of probate or of the circuit court, the Supreme Court must render judgment against the appellant and his or her sureties for the costs. An appeal in any and all cases suspends the execution of the judgment or decree of the judge of probate or of the circuit court.  (Code 1896, §1703; Code 1907, §477; Code 1923, §567; Code 1940, T. 17, §253; §17-15-35; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-63 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-63 - Statement - Filing; Bond.

Section 17-16-63Statement - Filing; bond. When any elector shall choose to contest any election for the office of Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, justices of the Supreme Court, or judges of the courts of appeals, the elector, within 10 days after the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall have opened the returns and proclaimed the result of the election for Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, justices of the Supreme Court, or judges of the courts of appeals, as provided in this chapter, must file with the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written statement of the grounds of such contest and a bond with good and sufficient sureties payable to the State of Alabama and conditioned for the payment of such costs as may accrue upon such contest in the event such contest shall result in favor of the contestee. Such bond must be in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) and must be subject to the approval of the Speaker of the House, and such bond, when it shall be approved, shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State.  Code 1896, §1672; Code 1907, §478; Code 1923, §568; Code 1940, T. 17, §254; §17-15-50; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-64 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-64 - Statement - Contents of Statement; Verification; Service; Amendments.

Section 17-16-64Statement - Contents of statement; verification; service; amendments. The written statement of the grounds of contest must set forth specifically:  (1) The name of the person contesting and that the person was a qualified voter when the election was held.  (2) The office which the election was held to fill, and the time of holding the same. (3) The particular grounds of contest.  (4) The name of the counties in which any of the alleged grounds of the contest may have occurred, and shall state with particularity the names of the election precinct in each of such counties in which the grounds of contest may be alleged to have occurred.  (5) The grounds on which the declared voter of each of the named election precincts in each county is contested.  Such statement of the grounds of contest must be sworn to by the elector making the contest before some officer authorized to administer oaths in the State of Alabama, and may be amended from time to time as may be determined by the two houses of the Legislature in joint convention assembled. The Speaker of the House shall cause the Clerk of the House forthwith to serve a copy of the statement on the person who may have been declared to have been elected to the contested office.  (Code 1896, §1673; Code 1907, §479; Code 1923, §569; Code 1940, T. 17, §255; §17-15-51; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-65 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-65 - Tried by Joint Convention of House and Senate.

Section 17-16-65Tried by joint convention of House and Senate. The two houses of the Legislature, in joint convention assembled, and presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall constitute the tribunal for the trial of all contests for the office of Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, justices of the Supreme Court, or judges of the courts of appeals and such joint convention shall fix a day for the trial, which may be adjourned from day to day, and from time to time, as may be determined by the joint convention. A majority of the joint convention shall be competent to try all issues involved in the contest and render judgment on all questions arising during the progress of the trial, including a final judgment on the contest. The proceedings of the joint convention, as well as all judgments rendered, shall be entered upon the journals of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the final judgment of the joint convention upon the contest shall thereupon become effective as a judgment and shall have the force and effect of vesting the title to the office, which may be the subject of contest in the person in whose favor the judgment may be rendered. (Code 1896, §1674; Code 1907, §480; Code 1923, §570; Code 1940, T. 17, §256; §17-15-52; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-66 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-66 - Commission Elected to Take Testimony.

Section 17-16-66Commission elected to take testimony. When any contest shall have been commenced under the provisions of this article for any of the officers mentioned in Section 17-16-65, it shall be the duty of the Legislature, in joint convention, to elect by ballot three senators and five representatives, who shall act as a commission to take the testimony to be submitted on the contest. Every member of the joint convention, at such time, as may be fixed by resolution of the two houses, shall vote for two senators and three representatives as members of the commission, and the three senators and five representatives who receive the highest number of votes shall be declared elected commissioners.  (Code 1896, §1675; Code 1907, §481; Code 1923, §571; Code 1940, T. 17, §257; §17-15-53; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-67 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-67 - Sitting of Commission.

Section 17-16-67Sitting of commission. The commission provided for in Section 17-16-66 shall sit at such times and places as may be directed by the joint convention, and shall be presided over by a chair of its own selection, and each member of the commission shall receive four dollars ($4) per diem during the time of actual sitting when the Legislature is not in session, and necessary expenses, to be paid by the Comptroller's warrant drawn upon the Treasurer, when the chair of the commission shall certify the same to the Comptroller.  (Code 1896, §1676; Code 1907, §482; Code 1923, §572; Code 1940, T. 17, §258; §17-15-54; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-68 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-68 - Commission to Take Testimony.

Section 17-16-68Commission to take testimony. The commission shall take testimony on the part of the contestant, and also on the part of the contestee, and shall have power to send for witnesses, books, and papers anywhere in the State of Alabama; shall have power to issue warrants, under the hand of the chair, to any judge, or clerk of any court of record or such other competent and discreet person as the commission may appoint, to take the deposition of witnesses at such time and place as the warrant shall direct, and the points as to which the testimony is to be taken shall be set forth in such warrant. The evidence taken in the case of a contest of the election of one officer may be used in the contest of the election of any other officer voted for at the same election and contested before the Legislature; provided, that notice that such evidence will be used, or offered, shall be given to the party or parties interested in such other office, so that all parties interested may be present and participate in the taking of such testimony, and provided the party instituting the contest does not object by filing a written objection with the commission.  (Code 1896, §1677; Code 1907, §483; Code 1923, §573; Code 1940, T. 17, §259; §17-15-55; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-69 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-69 - Notice to Adverse Party.

Section 17-16-69Notice to adverse party. Whenever either party shall apply to the commission to examine witnesses, either before the commission or by warrant issued from the commission, the adverse party shall have five days' notice of the application and of the time and place of taking such depositions.  (Code 1896, §1678; Code 1907, §484; Code 1923, §574; Code 1940, T. 17, §260; §17-15-56; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-70 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-70 - Commission Has Power to Punish for Contempt.

Section 17-16-70Commission has power to punish for contempt. If any witness, being summoned, fails to attend, or being summoned with a subpoena duces tecum, fails and refuses to produce the paper or document required to be produced by the subpoena, the commission shall have the right and authority to punish the witness for contempt by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment in any county jail in the state for a period not to exceed 30 days, one or both, and in case any witness shall fail to appear or produce any book or document before any judge, clerk of court, or other person having a warrant from the commission, the judge, clerk of court, or other person, must certify the fact to the commission, which may thereupon punish such witness for contempt, as provided in this section. (Code 1896, §1679; Code 1907, §485; Code 1923, §575; Code 1940, T. 17, §261; §17-15-57; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-71 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-71 - Evidence Confined to Allegations; Exceptions.

Section 17-16-71Evidence confined to allegations; exceptions. No evidence shall be taken on the part of the contestant unless to sustain some one of the specific allegations of the original or amended statement of grounds of contest. Nor shall any evidence be taken on the part of the contestee except in rebuttal of the specific allegations of the original or amended statement of the grounds of contest. But upon five days' notice the contestee shall have the right to take evidence of any malconduct, fraud, or corruption on the part of any inspector, clerk, returning officer, canvassing board, or other person; of illegal votes cast for some person other than the contestee; of the rejection of legal votes cast for the contestee; of offers to bribe, bribery, intimidation, or other malconduct which prevented a fair, free, and full exercise of the elective franchise in any election precinct in the State of Alabama, the election in which is not put in issue by the original or amended statement of the grounds of contest; and when the contestee shall take evidence as herein provided, the contestant shall be permitted to take evidence in rebuttal. (Code 1896, §1680; Code 1907, §486; Code 1923, §576; Code 1940, T. 17, §262; §17-15-58; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-72 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-72 - Each Party Entitled to Be Present.

Section 17-16-72Each party entitled to be present. Each party shall have the right to be present at the taking of any evidence, in person or by agent or attorney.  (Code 1896, §1681; Code 1907, §487; Code 1923, §577; Code 1940, T. 17, §263; §17-15-59; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-73 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-73 - Commission to Report Conclusions and Evidence.

Section 17-16-73Commission to report conclusions and evidence. It shall be the duty of the commission to examine the evidence adduced upon the contest, and shall report its conclusions to the joint convention of the two houses, and all evidence taken under the provisions of this article shall be returned by the commission to the Speaker of the House at such time as the joint convention may direct. (Code 1896, §1682; Code 1907, §488; Code 1923, §578; Code 1940, T. 17, §264; §17-15-60; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-74 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-74 - Compensation of Witnesses.

Section 17-16-74Compensation of witnesses. The witnesses shall be allowed for their attendance one dollar ($1) a day and three cents ($.03) a mile coming and going by the route most usually traveled, from their place of residence to where such depositions are taken.  (Code 1896, §1683; Code 1907, §489; Code 1923, §579; Code 1940, T. 17, §265; §17-15-61; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-75 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-75 - Sheriffs to Serve Commission's Writs.

Section 17-16-75Sheriffs to serve commission's writs. The sheriffs of Alabama in their respective counties are required to serve subpoenas and such other writs as the commission may have authority to issue, and shall be allowed the same compensation as is now allowed by law for similar services performed at the command of the courts.  (Code 1896, §1684; Code 1907, §490; Code 1923, §580; Code 1940, T. 17, §266; §17-15-62; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)
AL Code § 17-16-76 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 17 - Elections.|Chapter 16 - Post Election Procedures.|Article 3 - Election Contests.|Section 17-16-76 - Execution for Costs.

Section 17-16-76Execution for costs. After the determination of the contest, the Clerk of the House of Representatives must tax the costs accrued and certify the amount of each separate item, the name of the person entitled thereto, and the result of such contest and the names of the sureties on the bond for contest, to the clerk of the circuit court of Montgomery County, and the clerk must thereupon issue execution against the unsuccessful party, which execution must be made returnable in 30 days after its issue; and alias and pluries executions may be issued as often as may be necessary. And if it be certified that the determination of the contest was against the contestant, the execution must issue against the sureties on the bond for the contest as well as against the contestant. (Code 1896, §1685; Code 1907, §491; Code 1923, §581; Code 1940, T. 17, §267; §17-15-63; amended and renumbered by Act 2006-570, p. 1331, §83.)