Durwood KING v. Sam WHITFIELD, Marion Hickey, Dennis Littleton, Carolyn Doster, and the Phillips County Election Commission
99-359
Supreme Court of Arkansas
Opinion delivered November 18, 1999
5 S.W.3d 21 | 339 Ark. 176
Alvin L. Simes, for appellee.
W.H. “DUB” ARNOLD, Chief Justice. Appellant, Durwood King, brings the instant appeal, challenging the circuit court‘s order dismissing his complaint against Sam Whitfield, the certified winner in a contested general election held for Municipal Judge for the City of Helena, Arkansas, on November 3, 1998. Our jurisdiction is authorized pursuant to
After reviewing the complaint, the trial court concluded that it lacked jurisdiction because the face of the complaint demonstrated that the action was not commenced within twenty days of the election‘s certification, as required by
I. Standard of review
Appellant‘s first point on appeal challenges the trial court‘s order granting appellee Whitfield‘s motion to dismiss. This court reviews a trial court‘s decision on a motion to dismiss by treating the facts alleged in the complaint as true and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Hames v. Cravens, 332 Ark. 437, 440-41, 966 S.W.2d 244 (1998) (citing Neal v. Wilson, 316 Ark. 588, 595-96, 873 S.W.2d 552 (1994) (citing Gordon v. Planters & Merchants Bancshares, Inc., 310 Ark. 11, 832 S.W.2d 492 (1992); Battle v. Harris, 298 Ark. 241, 766 S.W.2d 431 (1989)); Mid-South Beverages, Inc., 300 Ark. 204, 205, 778 S.W.2d (1989) (citing Battle, 298 Ark. 241))). Significantly, a trial judge must look only to the allegations in the complaint to decide a motion to dismiss. Hames, 332 Ark. at 441 (citing Neal, 316 Ark. at 596 (citing Wiseman v. Batchelor, 315 Ark. 85, 864 S.W.2d 248 (1993); Deitsch v. Tillery, 309 Ark. 401, 833 S.W.2d 760 (1992)); Mid-South Beverages, Inc., 300 Ark. at 205 (citing Battle, 298 Ark. 241))).
II. Jurisdiction
Based upon the face of King‘s complaint, the trial court concluded that it lacked jurisdiction because it determined that the action was not filed within twenty days of certification, pursuant to
The complaint shall be verified by the affidavit of the contestant to the effect that he believes the statements to be true and shall be filеd within twenty (20) days of the certification complained of.
In paragraph seven of his complaint, King alleged that:
The Defendants Election Commission certified Sam Whitfield as being the candidate elected in this election on November 3, 1998, which certificate is error and improper as set out herein, and the Election Commission should have certified Plaintiff as the person who was elected.
(Emphasis added.) Apparently, the trial court concluded that King‘s reference to November 3, 1998, the day the general election was held, implied that that was also the date of certification. Although the record indicates that the certificаtion date was November 17, 1998, the complaint fails to state sufficient facts for the trial court to determine that jurisdiction was properly alleged. Accordingly, the trial court properly dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
King‘s second point on appeal contends that the trial court erred by finding that the complaint failed to sufficiently state a cause of action. In its letter opinion incorporated in the order of dismissal, the trial court noted that King failed to name the voters who allegedly cast illegal ballots and failed to allege the certified votе totals for each candidate or the vote differentials. The trial court concluded that King presented only bare allegations, warranting dismissal. We agree.
In paragraphs eight, nine, ten, and eleven of his complaint, King alleges that Nathan Ashwood mailed a total of eighty-eight ballots to the Phillips County Clerk that were unaccompanied by a certificate authorizing Ashwood to return the ballots. King also stated his intent to challenge each ballot individually, pursuant to
We have repeatedly held that election statutes should be liberally construed to ensure compliance. See Duennenberg v. City of Barling, 309 Ark. 541, 832 S.W.2d 237 (1992); see also LaFargue v. Waggoner, 189 Ark. 757, 75 S.W.2d 235 (1934). Significantly, in LaFargue, we noted that “if there are sufficient facts stated to give the other party reasonable information as to the grounds of the contest, then the case should be tried on its merits.” LaFargue, 189 Ark. at 768. Further, in Gunter v. Fletcher, 217 Ark. 800, 233 S.W.2d 242 (1950), we acknowledged that the purpose of the election laws was to facilitate, and not hinder by technical requirements, the quick initiation of election contests. Gunter, 217 Ark. at 802. As a general rule, we do not hold partiеs to the same strict technical accuracy as required in a civil pleading, and we will disregard technical objections. Gunter, 217 Ark. at 802-03 (citing Robinson v. Knowlton, 183 Ark. 1127, 1133, 40 S.W.2d 450, 452 (1931)).
In spite of our liberal construction, a review of our cases considering the sufficiency of allegations in an election-contest complaint reveals that we require some detailed information to sustain the complaint. See McClendon v. McKeown, 230 Ark. 521, 323 S.W.2d 542 (1959). For example, in Gunter, the complaint
Although appellant asserts that he included the vote totals in the complaint, a review of the complaint demonstrates otherwise. In the absence of vote totals or differentials, the trial court could not conclude from the face of the complaint that, if the absentee votes were counted for King, the result of the election would actually have been different. Where, as here, a party fails to allege the specific facts necessary to contest the election and declare himself the winner, it is too late to subsequently amend his complaint by pointing to facts outside the complaint after the time for contesting the election has expired. See Rubens v. Hodges, 310 Ark. 451, 837 S.W.2d 465 (1992); see also Wheeler v. Jones, 239 Ark. 455, 390 S.W.2d 129 (1965).
In the instant case, King failed to set out a prima facie case essential to state a cause of action for an election contest and failed to inform either the opposing party or the trial court as to the specific facts creating a cause of action and vesting jurisdiction in the trial court. Treating the facts alleged in the complaint as true and viewing the complaint in the light most favorable to apрellant, we, nevertheless, conclude that the trial court properly dismissed King‘s complaint.
GLAZE, BROWN, and SMITH, JJ., concur.
TOM GLAZE, Justice, concurring. I concur, and write to elaborate on the Arkansas law that controls election contests like the case before us. First, it must be emphasized that an
As can be discerned from our case law abovе, election contest procedures are uniquely designed to dispose of all questions or issues quickly so stability and finality can be reached, thus, permitting government to continue as it should. Accordingly, once election results are certified, a contestant must file his or her complaint questioning those results within twenty days of the certification. See
In the instant case, appellant contestant Durwood King specifically stated that he was individually challenging 88 absentee ballots. Nonetheless, King failed to plead the names of those alleged illegal voters against whom he intended to offer proof. King relies on the case of Gunter v. Fletcher, 217 Ark. 800, 233 S.W.2d 242 (1950), which he contеnds relieves him of any burden to specify the names of alleged illegal voters in his complaint. Such contention is misplaced and is dispelled by the numerous election cases dealing with
As already mentioned, King failed to identify by name the 88 alleged illegal absentee voters in his complaint, and as a result, his complaint failed to state a cause of action. As pointed out by the majority opinion, King also was obliged by Arkansas precedent to state in his complaint the number of votes received by each candidate, so that it would appear, after deducting the alleged illegal votes from the number accredited to appellee Sam Whitfield, King would have more votеs than Whitfield. See Mason v. Peterson, 238 Ark. 1069, 386 S.W.2d 286 (1965); McClendon, 230 Ark. 521, 525, 323 S.W.2d 542, 545. Here, King‘s complaint did not mention either his total amount of votes or Whitfield‘s vote total, but instead only
Finally, it was suggested in oral argument that, even if King‘s complaint was deficient, such defect was cured because the circuit court allowed King to present his cаse on the merits at trial. This argument fails for two reasons. First, Whitfield objected to King‘s complaint and requested it be dismissed for failing to state a cause of action. The trial judge agreed with Whitfield‘s dismissal motion, but the judge still permitted King to introduce evidence on the merits of the case.2 At the same time, the judge preserved Whitfield‘s objection to allowing any evidence since the judge had dismissed King‘s complaint. The judge obviously took this approach so that his dismissal ruling and decision on the merits both could be reviewed in one appeal. In short, Whitfield never waived the trial court‘s dismissal ruling made in his behalf, but instead the trial judge was trying to practice judicial economy in an election case that needed to be facilitated and expedited. There is a second reason why King‘s complaint could not be cured so he could have his case decided on the merits. This is not an
As we have seen, this complaint did not state a cause of action. To allow it to be amended in such a way as to state a cause of action would, in effect, permit the plaintiff to assert, for the first time, his cause of action after the expiration of the twenty days. Such an amendment is not permissible. (Emphasis added.)
See also Cowger, 255 Ark. 871, 501 S.W.2d 212; Jones, 242 Ark. 907, 416 S.W.2d 306.
Although Arkansas law controlling election contests, in my view, soundly supports the trial court‘s decision, dismissing King‘s complaint in this case, I think the General Assembly should review its statutory procedures in this area of the law. Finality and stability in our elections are essential ingredients of a democratic process, but so are honesty, integrity, and legal exactness. Generally, the period is short between the time when officials are elected and certified and when they take their oath of office. Accordingly, our сontest procedures are designed and written to put complaints of election irregularities to rest. Nevertheless, our election laws can be written to establish, encourage, and facilitate both finality and honesty in Arkansas elections.
Under existing law, Arkansas‘s abbreviated twenty-day period to file an election contest makes it is almost impossible to investigate and acquire sufficient proof to identify individual voters who allegedly cast illegal ballots. It is only in the rare race where a candidate or nominee loses by the narrowest of votes that one could аccomplish such a feat and then still have the time to allege a prima facie cause of action. Cf. 26 Am.Jur.2d Elections § 434; 29 C.J.S. Elections § 268(2)(g). Hopefully, the General Assembly will address this important subject in its next session. As the law stands now, I agree with the majority court that the trial court correctly dismissed King‘s complaint.
ROBERT L. BROWN, Justice, concurring. I concur in the result, but I would reach the merits of the case and not dismiss King‘s complaint based on procedural technicalities. I would affirm because King did not prove that the two mailings of absentee ballots violate state law.
The purpose of our statutes governing election contests is to aid the democratic processes upon which our system of government is based, by providing a ready remedy whereby compliance with election laws can be assured. The purpose is to facilitate, not to hinder by technical requirements, the quick initiation of such contests.
I see no reason to deviate from this principle in the case before us.
The essence of Durwood King‘s complaint is as follows:
7. The Defendants Election commission certified Sam Whitfield as being the candidate elected in this election on November 3, 1998, which certificate is error and improper as set out herein, and the Election Commission should have certified Plaintiff as the person who was elected.
8. By mail, the County Clerk received in an envelope with the return address of Nathan Ashwood, Helena, Arkansas, 39 absentee ballots. These ballots were from individual voters and the certificate accompanying them indicated what (sic) the voter was mailing the ballot to the County Clerk and did not indicate that Nathan Ashwood was authorized to return them to the County Clerk.
9. Nathan Ashwood by mail sent to the Phillips County Clerk another envelope containing 49 absentee ballots of individual voters. The certificates accompanying these ballots in four instances were not marked as to how the ballots would be returned, and the remaining ballots indicated that the voter was returning them by mail.
10. Plaintiff challenged each ballot individually for the reason that it did not comply with and was in violation of Section 7-5-411, Arkansas Code Annotated.
11. Plaintiff states that these 88 ballots were all cast for Defendant Sam Whitfield and were illegal ballots as stated. If these
ballots were not counted Plaintiff would have a majority of the valid votes cast in this election for the position of Municipal Judge of the City of Helena, Arkansas.
The facts of the complaint were verified as true by King, and the complaint was filed on November 30, 1998.
I. Timeliness of the Complaint
The majority first errs in dismissing King‘s complaint because it alleged an erroneous date for certification. The complaint gave the date of сertification of the election results as November 3, 1998. The correct date was November 17, 1998. This is not in dispute. Indeed, the correct date was proved to the trial court at the hearing on January 12, 1999. The point is that the complaint was clearly filed within the 20-day time limit set out in
At oral argument before this court, the attorneys for King acknowledged that the date shown in the complaint was a drafter‘s error. For this court to dismiss a timely complaint for an election contest due to an error in the date, which everyone acknowledges was a mistake, runs contrary to any sense of justicе and is at odds with the stated purpose in the majority opinion which is to facilitate election contests. By deciding this case on such a procedural technicality and by avoiding the merits, we are doing exactly what we said we would not do in Gunter v. Fletcher, supra.
II. Stated Cause of Action
The majority also dismisses the complaint for failure to state election totals for each candidate and to identify the names of the illegal voters. Again, that precise evidence was supplied at the January 12, 1999 hearing. But regardless of that, I believe the complaint states a prima facie case, as required by
King alleged in his complaint:
- that he should hаve been certified the winner of the election;
that Nathan Ashwood of Helena mailed in two batches of absentee ballots — one for 39 ballots and one for 49 ballots, for a total of 88 ballots; - that this mailing procedure violated § 7-5-411;
- that the 88 ballots were all cast for Whitfield, and if they were not counted, King would have a majority of the votes.
What else is needed to state a cause of action? It appears to me that the complaint does so in clear and cogent fashion. The majority opinion relies on four cases to dismiss on technical grounds, all of which are distinguishable and one of which clеarly supports my position that the merits should be reached in this case. See Rubens v. Hodges, 310 Ark. 451, 837 S.W.2d 465 (1992); Wheeler v. Jones, 239 Ark. 455, 390 S.W.2d 129 (1965); McClendon v. McKeown, 230 Ark. 521, 323 S.W.2d 542 (1959); Gunter v. Fletcher, supra.
In Gunter v. Fletcher, supra, we came down squarely on the side of reaching the merits in election contests and avoiding decisions based on procedural technicalities. In Gunter, the plaintiff alleged recomputed vote totals for the two candidates in his complaint. The total votes actually cast in the election were not given. The defendant demurred, and the trial court sustained the demurrer for failure to state sufficient facts. We reversed the trial court and held that giving the actual vote totals was not required. As alrеady noted, we stated that the purpose of the election laws is to facilitate, and not to hinder by technical requirements the quick initiation of election contests. We added that the purpose in pleading in election contests was to give the other side “reasonable information as to the grounds of the contest....” Gunter, 217 Ark. at 802, 233 S.W.2d at 243, citing LaFargue v. Waggoner, 189 Ark. 757, 768, 75 S.W.2d 235, 240 (1934). We concluded that what the plaintiff set out was sufficient and that no genuinely useful purpose would be served by requiring the voting totals in the complaint. Yet, requiring voting totals is precisely what the majority opinion does in the instant case.
In a later case, we made it clear that a contestant must allege in the complaint that he would win if the disputed votes were eliminated. See McClendon v. McKeown, supra. In McClendon, the plaintiff refused to give the names of the contested voters and never expressly alleged that he would win if the illegal votes were not
The McClendon facts are a far cry from the facts we have before us in the instant case. Here, King tells us what disputed votes are involved by referring to all of the votes in Nathan Ashwood‘s two absentee bulk mailings. He tells us the disputed votes total 88, and he cites statutory authority for why the votes are illegal. In short, he alleges definitely and with precision that without these votes, he would win.
In Wheeler v. Jones, supra, the plaintiff omitted from his complaint which candidate benefitted from the illegal votes. Instead, the complaint set out the total votes per candidate and then asserted that 52 named persons voted in an absentee box and were not qualified electors and that 196 named persons voted in precincts in which they did not reside. The trial court sustained a demurrer, and we affirmed. We held, for obvious reasons, that the complaint did not state a cause of action because the plaintiff did not allege whether the contested votes were cast for the winner or that the election results would be different if the votes were set aside. King‘s complaint is different. He states that without the contested absentee votes, he would win. The decision in Wheeler v. Jones, supra, does not control the instant case.
Finally, there is Rubens v. Hodges, supra, a case that is obviously inapposite. In Rubens, the complaint did not tell us for whom the disenfranchised voters would have voted. In that case, the victorious candidate for justice of the peace died before the election. Her opponent filed an election contest аnd alleged that the voters of one ward were entitled to vote for the JP position, but the ballots did not include that election. She asserted that of the 23 people voting in that ward, 9 wanted to vote for her. In another ward, voters were
Here, King alleges that the total illegal absentee votes are 88, and that not counting them would make him the winner. Our fact situation is categorically different from Rubens v. Hodges, supra, and when all is said and done, there is no case which is on all fours with the facts of the case at hand.
III. Bulk Mailing
Nevertheless, I would affirm the trial court‘s decision on the merits. The applicable statute at the time of the election read:
(a) Absentee voting may be accomplished in one (1) of the two (2) following methods, and in no other manner:
(1) By ballot cast my mail which must be received in the office of the county clerk of the county of residence of the voter not later than 7:30 p.m. on election day. However, absentee ballots applied for not later than thirty (30) days before the election, by qualified electors outside the United States on election day which are signed and dated by the voters no later than the dаy of the election and received by the county clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. ten (10) calendar days after the date of the election;
For that reason alone I would affirm.
SMITH, J., joins.