Opinion ID: 1679212
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: East Central Precinct.

Text: Most important here were the findings of the special judge relating to the will of the electorate. The proof without dispute shows a pattern of conduct by Beverly Perkins disruptive of the electoral process. In addition to violating the 150-foot rule, the evidence of Perkins' conduct suggests possible criminal violations of election laws prohibiting disturbing an election, Miss. Code Ann. § 97-13-21 (1972), and intimidating electors to prevent voting, Miss. Code Ann. § 97-13-39 (1972). In his findings, the special judge did not make clear whether he considered Perkins' conduct so severe that the results of the voting in the East Central Cleveland Precinct should have been thrown out. We certainly have no hesitation in expressing displeasure with the election process described in this record. We might agree that discarding the east central Cleveland precinct votes is appropriate, but this does not automatically mean a new election must follow. The special judge did find that even if the results were thrown out, it was still possible to ascertain the will of the electorate. Assuming the special judge found that Rizzo's contest was successful, necessitating the results from this precinct being thrown out, we must turn to the test announced in Noxubee County Democratic Committee v. Russell, 443 So.2d 1191, 1197-98 (Miss. 1983): When an election has been successfully contested, this Court has employed different tests over the years to aid its determination of what form of relief is in order. By various routes, we have attempted to discern whether the entire election should be thrown out or only the tainted votes. We have employed a two pronged test which though it has been stated in different ways, essentially provides that special elections will be required only when (1) enough illegal votes were cast for the contestee to change the result of the election, or (2) so many votes are disqualified that the will of the voters is impossible to discern. Walker v. Smith, 213 Miss. 255, 56 So.2d 84, suggestion of error, 213 Miss. 263, 264, 57 So.2d 166, 167 (1952); Pyron v. Joiner, 381 So.2d 627 (Miss. 1980). Here, as the disqualification of the illegal votes does not change the result of the election, we need only consider whether the irregularities were substantial enough to warrant a special election. In Walker, we clarified the manner in which we make this determination, finding that the question depends upon the facts and circumstances in each particular case, including the nature of the procedural requirements violated, the scope of the violations, and the ratio of illegal votes to the total votes cast. 213 Miss. at 264, 57 So.2d 166. As this rule has been applied in our case law, the nature of the procedural violation is important because if the irregularities are due to fraud or willful violations of the election procedure, this Court will not hesitate to order a new election, even though the percentage of illegal votes is small. See, e.g., Harris v. Stewart, 187 Miss. 489, 193 So. 339 (1940); Hayes v. Abney, 186 Miss. 208, 188 So. 533 (1939). The scope of the violations and the ratio of illegal votes are significant, because even in the absence of fraud, the disenfranchisement of a significant number of voters will cast enough doubt on the results of an election to warrant voiding it. As a rule, if more than thirty percent of total votes have been disqualified, a special election will be required. See, e.g., Wallace v. Leggett, 248 Miss. 121, 158 So.2d 746 (1963); Ulmer v. Currie, 245 Miss. 285, 147 So.2d 286 (1962); Sinclair v. Fortenberry, 213 Miss. 219, 56 So.2d 697 (1952); May v. Layton, 213 Miss. 129, 55 So.2d 460 (1951). On the other hand, when the percentage of illegal votes is smaller, even though the winning margin is less than the number of illegal votes, a special election may not be required. Pyron v. Joiner, 381 So.2d 627 (Miss. 1980) (disqualification of 3.9 percent of the votes did not warrant special election.) Walker v. Smith, 213 Miss. 255, 56 So.2d 84, suggestion of error 57 So.2d 166 (1952) (disqualification of six percent of the total vote did not warrant a special primary election.) Applying the Russell test to the facts of this case, it is apparent that a new election is unnecessary. First, it is clear that by discarding the illegal votes the outcome is unchanged, for without any votes from the precinct Bizzell won the election. There was no fraud practiced and the ratio of illegal votes to total votes, discarding all 355 votes at the east central Cleveland precinct, is 355 to 2817, or slightly more than 12%. The nature of the violations, while serious, cannot totally control the disposition of this case, for we must balance the public interest with that of the successful contestant. When deciding whether a special election is warranted, we recognize competing interests which must be weighed and balanced. While the voters are not parties to this contest, their interests are paramount. Special elections are a great expense for the county and its taxpayers. Beyond that, the turnout for a special election is never as great as when there are a number of candidates on the slate. By contrast, we feel that the rights of the individual candidates cannot be allowed to overshadow the public good. Russell, 443 So.2d at 1197 [emphasis added]. Rizzo argues that a special election for just the east central Cleveland precinct is warranted. While it may be a permissible alternative under Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-593 (Cum.Supp. 1987), given the circumstances, we cannot agree. In addition to the factors noted above, we cannot ignore the fact that Rizzo carried the precinct convincingly despite the violations. Even the somewhat less expensive alternative of a special election confined to the east central Cleveland precinct cannot, on balance, be rationalized here. Since Bizzell received a total of 178 more votes than Rizzo, Rizzo would have to acquire a net increase of 178 votes at the east central Cleveland precinct to effect the outcome. The total number of votes at the precinct was 355; Rizzo received 243 votes to 112 for Bizzell. Rizzo out-polled Bizzell by this same two-to-one margin at this precinct in the first primary, as well as in the runoff. Thus, unless Bizzell's supporters would totally abstain from voting, Rizzo would likely need an increase in turnout of roughly 50% at a special election just to have a chance to obtain the needed 178 additional votes. There was virtually no evidence implying that qualified electors would turn out in any greater numbers, nor was there any real evidence that voters were denied or prevented from voting by Perkins. Thus, little evidence suggested turnout might improve at all, much less by a large percentage. Under the circumstances of this case, the special judge correctly determined that the will of the voters could be ascertained and a new election was unnecessary. The decision of the special judge declaring Bizzell the winner of the second Democratic primary for the position of supervisor, District 2, in Bolivar County, Mississippi, is hereby affirmed. AFFIRMED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS, P.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, GRIFFIN and ZUCCARO, JJ., concur.