63 Colo. 227 | Colo. | 1917
Opinion by
This was an action under chapter 28 of the Code to remove defendant in error from the office of director of an irrigation district, and to seat in his place one who was the opposing candidate at the district election in December, 1915. It is stipulated that if the words “year preceding” in section 3 of chapter 104 of the Session Laws of 1915, mean the twelve months immediately preceding the date of the election, or during the calendar year of 1915, the defendant in error should be declared elected; but if those words mean the calendar year of 1914, then the relator Grimwood should be declared elected to said office.
The law provides that district elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in each year (Sec. 3445, R. S. 1908) :
For the plaintiff in error it is urged that the word “year” used in a statute is ordinarily considered to refer to a calendar year beginning January 1, and ending December 31.
We think the words in the statute in question mean the
The act of 1915 removed some of the restrictions on voters which were imposed by the law of 1907, thus enlarging the class entitled to vote at district elections; and to hold that the same act, by the words quoted, restricts the right to vote to those who have paid taxes eleven months or more before the election is to narrow the right without any good reason therefor. The words “preceding year” have been given the construction here given to them in Bovee v. Boyle, 25 Colo. App. 165, 136 Pac. 467.
The judgment is affirmed.