Opinion ID: 2361341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Voiding the Election

Text: We turn next to the appellants' arguments that the circuit court erred in voiding Helton's certification as the winner and declaring a vacancy in nomination. Multiple arguments are presented by Helton and the Election Commission on this point. We consider the prevailing argument, however, to be that the circuit court in its May 19, 2000 order directed that no votes be certified for Jacobs. The court noted that it was too late to remove Jacobs's name from the ballot, but clearly the order intended that any votes cast for Jacobs were to be of no effect and were not to be counted. We affirmed that decision in Jacobs v. Yates, supra . In accordance with the circuit court's directive, the Election Commission marked through the tabulated votes for Jacobs in its certification of the election results. Despite this history, all of Jacobs's arguments made before the circuit court in connection with his June 15, 2000 petition and now before this court on appeal flow from his assertion that he received a majority of votes cast. That is a faulty premise because any votes cast for Jacobs in the May 23 primary election should not have been counted. No one disputes the disqualification of Jacobs and Tyler. Indeed, the parties stipulated to that fact in the case before us. Moreover, state law is clear that the names of ineligible candidates shall not be printed on the ballot. See Ark.Code Ann. § 7-5-207(b) (Repl. 2000). We are hard pressed, as a result, to give any credence to vote tallies that should not have been done in the first place. Were we to do so, we would be reversing our decision in Jacobs v. Yates, supra , where we explicitly said the votes should not be counted. In sum, Jacobs's total vote is irrelevant and of no effect, and since his arguments all hinge on his contention that he received most of the votes cast, he cannot prevail. It is also important to focus in this case on the relief requested by Jacobs in his June 15, 2000 petition for writ of mandamus and declaratory relief. He did not contend that Helton should be declared ineligible or disqualified before the November 7, 2000 general election. Thus, Jacobs did not invoke the procedure for determining candidate eligibility under State v. Craighead County Bd. of Election Comm'rs, supra . On the contrary, he stipulated that his sole prayer for relief was to have the position of Justice of the Peace, District 7, declared vacant under § 7-5-315(7) and to be filled according to law. Section 7-5-315(7) reads: (7)(A) The votes received by any person whose name appeared on the ballot and who withdrew or died after the certification of the ballot or filing period ended shall be counted. (B)(i) If the person received enough votes to win nomination or election, a vacancy in the nomination or election shall be declared. (ii)(a) If the person received enough votes to qualify for a runoff, the person's name shall appear on the runoff ballot; and (b) If enough votes are cast for the person to win the runoff, then a vacancy in the nomination or election shall exist. Ark.Code Ann. § 7-5-315(7) (Repl.2000) (emphasis added). Thus, § 7-5-315(7), by its terms, applies only to cases in which a person dies or withdraws after certification of the ballot or after the filing period ends. It is not applicable to a case such as we have before us where a candidate has been disqualified before the primary election. Even if we accepted Jacobs's argument, which we do not, § 7-5-315(7) determines a vacancy in nomination by counting votes. Again, in this case the votes cast for Jacobs are of no effect. In its opinion, the circuit court relied on the case of Swepston v. Barton, 39 Ark. 549 (1882), in declaring a vacancy in nomination. The court specifically quoted from Swepston that when a vote for an ineligible candidate is not declared void by statute, the vote she receives, if they are a majority or plurality, will be effectual to prevent the opposing candidate being chosen, and the election must be considered as having failed. 39 Ark. at 555. See also Davis v. Holt, 304 Ark. 619, 804 S.W.2d 362 (1991). In Swepston , Swepston defeated Barton for the office of Crittenden County Sheriff by a majority of 165 votes at the general election. Thereafter, as part of the election contest, Barton contended that Swepston was ineligible because he had failed to account for or pay over certain revenues he collected for the county. This court did not decide Swepston's eligibility because there was no ruling on that point by the circuit court. We deem Swepston to be inapposite as precedent for this case for one critical reason. In Swepston , the ineligibility was asserted after the election in which Swepston had been a candidate and received a majority of the votes cast. In the case at hand, Jacobs was declared ineligible and disqualified as a candidate before the election took place and should not even have been on the ballot. This court has consistently drawn a clear distinction between causes of action that accrue pre-election and those that accrue post-election after the voters have spoken. See, e.g., Doty v. Bettis, 329 Ark. 120, 947 S.W.2d 743 (1997) (prior to election, election laws are mandatory; thereafter, they are directory only). There is, finally, the point that Jacobs did not press for resolution of his petition for writ of mandamus and declaratory relief regarding a vacancy in nomination before the November 7 general election. As an unopposed candidate, Helton was assured of being certified the winner of the general election under state law. See Ark.Code Ann. § 7-5-315(1) (Repl. 2000). After the general election occurred and Helton was certified the winner, a declaration of a vacancy in nomination was not the appropriate remedy. The circuit court clearly erred in declaring a vacancy in nomination to exist. We reverse the order of the circuit court and remand this case with the following instructions: (1) Arlanda Jacobs shall immediately cease holding the office of Justice of the Peace, District 7; (2) the order of the circuit court voiding the certificate of election granted to Roy Helton is reversed, effective immediately, and the certificate of election granted to Roy Helton is in full force and effect; and (3) Roy Helton shall immediately begin serving his term as Justice of the Peace, District 7. Reversed and remanded.