Court Opinion

ID: 7824617
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 18:03:56.142496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:49.559420
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Justice, concurring. I concur. Even assuming the appellants had standing to bring this litigation, they were required to do so before the Democratic Primary Election in May 1990. This court has repeatedly recognized that the provisions of elections laws are mandatory if enforcement is sought before the election and directory if not raised until after the election. Donn v. McCuen, 303 Ark. 415, 797 S.W.2d 455 (1990); Stillinger v. Rector, 253 Ark. 982, 490 S.W.2d 109 (1973); Wright v. Sullivan, 229 Ark. 378, 314 S.W.2d 700 (1958). Here, appellants failed to commence their action until September 1990, more than three months after the primary election (and more than five months after the filing deadline for candidates). Accordingly, any filing requirements for party candidates became directory rather than mandatory after the primary election. At this late date, those candidates having failed to file a party loyalty oath (or political practice pledges) cannot be removed as a party nominee in the forthcoming General Election.