Document: 522 U.S. 67118 S.Ct. 464139 L.Ed.2d 369 Murphy J. FOSTER, Jr., Governor of Louisiana, et al., Petitioners,v.G. Scott LOVE, Paul S. Bergeron, Kathleen B. Balhoff, and Bennie Baker-Bourgeois. No. 96-670. Supreme Court the United States Argued Oct. 6, 1997. Decided Dec. 2, Syllabus * The Elections Clause Constitution, Art. I, §4, cl. 1, invests with responsibility for mechanics congressional elections, see Storer v. Brown, 415 724, 730, 94 1274, 1279, 39 714, but grants Congress "the power to override state regulations'' by establishing uniform rules federal Term Limits, Inc. Thornton, 514 779, 832-833, 115 1842, 1868-1869, 131 881. One such rule sets date biennial election offices Senator, 2 U.S.C. §1, Representative, §7, mandates holding all presidential elections on a single November day, §§1, 7; 3 §1. Since 1978, Louisiana has held in October year an "open primary'' offices, which candidates, regardless party, appear same ballot voters are entitled vote. If candidate given office receives majority at open primary, "is elected'' no further act is done day fill that office. this system went into effect, over 80% State's contested have ended as matter law primary. Respondents, voters, challenged primary violation law. Finding conflict between statutes, District granted summary judgment petitioners, secretary state. Fifth Circuit reversed. Held: Louisiana's statute conflicts extent it applied select October. Pp. ___-___. (a) issue here narrow one turning entirely meaning statutes. There colorable argument §7 goes beyond ample limits Clause's grant authority Congress. In speaking election'' Senator or statutes plainly refer combined actions officials meant make final selection officeholder; day'' these must take place, simply regulate time election, Constitution explicitly gives say. P. ___. (b) A candidates concluded before fact place chosen Congress, clearly violates §7. claim its concerns only manner, not time, odds statute, addresses timing quite obviously does. takes whenever gets (c) This Court's buttressed tended foster both evils identified reasons passing statute: distortion voting process when results early State can influence later other States, burden citizens forced turn out two different days selections officers years. 90 F.3d 1026, affirmed. SOUTER, J., delivered opinion unanimous respect Parts II, IV, Part III, REHNQUIST, C.J., STEVENS, O'CONNOR, GINSBURG, BREYER, JJ., joined. Richard Ieyoub, Baton Rouge, LA, petitioners. M. Miller Baker, Washington, DC, respondents. Justice SOUTER Court.** 1 Under §§1 7, Tuesday after first Monday even-numbered established'' elections. provides opportunity Representative during previous month, without any action be taken day. us whether ostensible runs afoul statute. We hold " [t]he Times, Places Manner Senators Representatives, shall prescribed each Legislature thereof; may Law alter Regulations.'' default provision; 714 (1974), so far declines preempt legislative choices, Roudebush Hartke, 405 15, 24, 92 804, 810, 31 (1972) ("Unless acts, empowers regulate''). Thus well settled binding States. 881 (1995). [T]he regulations made paramount those legislature; if they therewith, latter, extends, ceases operative.'' Ex parte Siebold, 100 371, 384, 25 L.Ed. 717 (1879). adopted under (and counterpart Executive Branch, 3) offices. See Title was originally enacted 1872, now next 1st November, every even numbered year, established Territories Representatives Delegates commencing 3d January thereafter.'' provision, along §1 (setting electing Seventeenth Amendment) (doing selecting electors), Presidency throughout Union. 4 1975, new statutory scheme Representatives. holds what popularly known La.Rev.Stat. Ann. §18:402(B)(1) (West Supp.1997), ballot, like disregard vote, §18:401(B) 1979). majority, run-off (dubbed "general election'') top vote-getters following month §18:481 But does get October, elected,'' §18:511(A) question. effect primary.1 5 Respondents who sued state, challenging finding whereas divided panel reversed, concluding squarely "conflicts establish day.'' 1031 (1996). affirm. II 6 Circuit's conception exactly right. For petitioners' invocations sovereignty, there Congress.2 When speak officeholder (subject possibility run-off, §8).3 N. Webster, An American Dictionary English Language 433 (C. Goodrich & Porter eds. 1869) (defining "election'' choosing person office''). By particular 7 While true room about just constitute within law, our decision nicety isolating precisely acts cause it) order satisfy Without paring term down definitional bone, enough resolve case say §7.4 8 Petitioners try save arguing that, because unusual instances needed, "manner'' officials, "time'' will place. [a]lthough authorized change manner conduct elections[,] enacting sought were conducted, their manner. Conversely, [changed chooses officers; it] did general Congress.'' Brief 21. 9 Even distinction mattered here, attempt draw time-manner line merely wordplay, wordplay much provision straightforwardly [a] votes cast elected.'' Supp.1997). Because said "elected'' been selected from among eligible office-seekers, reason suspect intended some eccentric phrase After declaration received requires anyone seal election; already occurred. Thus, contrary imaginative characterization purport affect elections: prior As attorney conceded oral argument, "Louisiana's certainly allows opposed actually Federal Election Day.'' Tr. Oral Arg. 6. III 10 conclusion depend discerning intent behind appreciation Congress's object "to remedy more than evil arising members occurring times States.'' Yarbrough, 110 651, 661, 152, 157, 28 274 (1884). sponsor original bill put it, concerned threatened years: 11 "Unless we do fix which, rule, elected, upon canvass going Union times. It undue advantage . I remember, 1840, news Pennsylvania effectually afterward agree Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, influence. contend advantage, wrong, wrong also people once four years trouble having double election.'' Cong. Globe, 42d Cong., 2d Sess., 141 (1871) (remarks Rep. Butler). 12 Busbee Smith, 549 F.Supp. 494, 524 (D.D.C. 1982) (recounting purposes §7), aff'd, 459 1166, 103 809, 74 1010 (1983). evils, had conclusively elsewhere, and, years, potentially conclusive IV 13 void. below 14 ordered. syllabus constitutes part prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Timber Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 26 282, 287, 50 499. ** SCALIA, KENNEDY, THOMAS join opinion. 57 Senator. 1030 (C.A.5 1996). "comprehensive'' details including impose numerous requirements procedure safeguards experience shows necessary enforce fundamental right involved.'' Smiley Holm, 285 355, 366, 52 397, 399, 76 795 (1932). Congressional extends "primary involves step choice representatives Classic, 313 299, 320, 61 1031, 1040, 85 1368 (1941). §8, necessitated "by failure elect law.'' explanation offered history Allen G. Thurman's statement "there except member.'' 677 (1872) Sen. Thurman). vote subsequent required. Public Citizen, Miller, 813 821 (N.D.Ga.), 992 F.2d 1548 (C.A.11 1993) (upholding §8 initial required Georgia law). thus present question always employ conventional election. today consummated

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