Opinion ID: 1770840
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the trial court erred in denying upton's motion to dismiss.

Text: ¶ 8. Upton filed a Motion to Dismiss or, Alternatively, Motion for Summary Judgment with the circuit court, arguing, inter alia, that the circuit court was without jurisdiction to hear the case. Upton contends that, according to Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-927 (1990), a county executive committee has authority to investigate only irregularities in the ballot box or fraud in the election process. Upton argues that these irregularities are limited to such things as discrepancies in vote counting, the number of voters signing the registration book as compared to the number of ballots in the ballot box, illegal votes, and the security of the ballot box. Upton asserts that because McKenzie does not allege any of the irregularities defined in § 23-15-927, the circuit court was without jurisdiction to hear the case. ¶ 9. This assignment of error is without merit. Section 23-15-927 does not define any irregularities which may be reviewed by a county executive committee, but rather provides for the filing of a petition in the circuit court where a county executive committee delays or denies relief to the petitioner. McKenzie correctly notes that nothing in Miss.Code Ann. § 23-15-921 (1990), the operative statute, limits the committee's inquiry regarding a contest of a primary election to allegations of fraud. Section 23-15-921 provides: Except as provided by Section 23-15-961, a person desiring to contest the election of another person returned as the nominee of the party to any county or county district office, or as the nominee of a legislative district composed of one (1) county or less, may, within twenty (20) days after the primary election, file a petition with the secretary, or any member of the county executive committee in the county in which the election was held, setting forth the grounds upon which the primary election is contested; and it shall be the duty of the executive committee to assemble by call of the chairman or three (3) members of said committee, notice of which contest shall be served five (5) days before said meeting, and after notifying all parties concerned proceed to investigate the grounds upon which the election is contested and, by majority vote of the members present, declare the true results of such primary. (emphasis added). The wording of this statute simply does not limit an executive committee's review of an election to instances where the contest is based on grounds of fraud and certain irregularities. Upton's contention that the investigatory powers of county executive committees are limited to such things as discrepancies in vote counting, the number of voters signing the registration book as compared to the number of ballots in the ballot box, illegal votes, and the security of the ballot box is clearly without merit. Thus, the circuit court did not err in denying Upton's motion to dismiss.