Court Opinion

ID: 9514808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:51:46.679647+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:20.979514
License: Public Domain

GILBERTSON, Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 18.] Our State Motto is “Under God the People Rule.” We have ruled ourselves since 1889 through elections. Here an election took place to determine whether Watertown would modify an existing neighborhood for improvements in its health care facilities. The election was apparently hotly contested and the end result a close one.
[¶ 19.] A setting aside of the people’s decision is a serious one not to be taken lightly. Our legislature has recognized this and requires before such a challenge may be considered by the courts, those who seek the election’s overthrow do so by a complaint that is verified. This requires the challengers not only to make claims of electoral injustice but make them under oath. An oath is not an idle act or a mere formality. Lying under oath is perjury and is a felony punishable by five years in the state penitentiary. See SDCL 22-29-1 and 5, 22-6-1. Considering what is at stake over whether the apparent will of the majority of the electorate is to be cast aside, this is appropriate. On the other hand an election contest provides a vehicle to right any wrongs which could have affected the legitimate outcome of the election.
[¶ 20.] Here the challengers filed their written complaint but no written verifica*926tion was attached stating the allegations were made under oath and thus under penalty of perjury. No one disputes they orally took such an oath. However, only after the filing of a motion to dismiss, did the challengers file affidavits declaring they had orally verified their complaint at the time they signed it.
[¶ 21.] Given what is at stake, I cannot believe the legislature had such an oral verification option in mind when it required verification under oath as a jurisdictional prerequisite to an election challenge. The explicit words of SDCL 12-22-8 require that to commence this proceeding, there shall be a “filing” of a “summons and complaint, which complaint shall be duly verified.” How do you simultaneously file with the clerk an oral verification and the written complaint? It did not happen here. Whether the contestants took an oral oath (verification) is not the point. They did not file it with the Clerk when they filed their written complaint and thus the jurisdictional pre-requisite of SDCL 12-22-8 is not satisfied.
[¶ 22.] In addition I join in the dissent of Justice Amundson.