Opinion ID: 1788430
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: did the election tribunal err in finding a special election was warranted?

Text: When an election contest is successful, an alternatively-pronged test is employed to determine whether a special election is required. Stringer v. Lucas, 608 So.2d 1351, 1357 (Miss. 1992), citing Noxubee County Democratic Executive Committee v. Russell, 443 So.2d 1191 (Miss. 1983). If either (1) enough illegal votes were cast for the contestee to change the election result or (2) the amount of votes disqualified is substantial enough that it is impossible to discern the will of the voters, a special election is required. Stringer, 608 So.2d at 1357. Otherwise, only the tainted votes are rendered void and the outcome of the election is determined by the legal votes cast. Rizzo v. Bizzell, 530 So.2d 121, 128 (Miss. 1988). Determination of the intent of the voters of contested ballots is a factual inquiry properly made by the Special Tribunal. Wade v. Williams, 517 So.2d 573, 576 (Miss. 1987). Rogers contends the tribunal erred when it found the will of the voters was impossible to ascertain and a special election warranted based on the different outcome of the election when absentee ballots from two precincts are thrown out and only the remaining ballots from the same two precincts are counted. According to Rogers, the record is devoid of any evidence of voter fraud. Holder claims Rogers is precluded from this assertion on appeal by virtue of Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-933 (Supp. 1992), as all commissioners concurred in the Tribunal's findings. However, § 23-15-933 (Supp. 1992) only prevents review of the Tribunal's findings of fact in this case; its conclusions of law are reviewable by this Court. Holder's election contest was successful, therefore the alternatively-pronged Russell test comes into play. We must first discern whether any votes cast for Rogers were illegal. The Special Tribunal found as a fact that no allegations had been made regarding improper voting at the polls of Sunflower and Moorhead precincts; consequently, we are concerned with only the absentee ballots from these precincts.