Packard v. Board of Canvassers ( 1892 )

Per Curiam.

The petitioner was a candidate for the office of county treasurer of Menominee county at the last November election. His opponent was declared elected by the board of county canvassers. He, in season, filed his demand for a recount, under Act' No. 208, Laws of 1887. Such recount was had, the committee aj>pointed reported to the board of county canvassers that his opponent was elected, and the board so declared the result. He now asks for the writ of mandamus to compel the board to reassemble, and make a full and detailed report of all the ballots which he claims were improperly counted for his opponent, and the rejection of certain ballots in favor of himself, and that said board be directed by this Court to count certain ballots for himself, and to reject some counted for his opponent.

Should the board of' canvassers refuse to recount under this statute, when the application is filed in time, the writ would issue to set the board in motion; but when they have recounted and declared the result, and made their return and adjourned, they then become functus officio, and the remedy of the party claiming to be aggrieved is by a qu,o warranto proceeding to test the validity of the election.

The claim of relator is that the board and committee appointed in accordance with the law to recount the votes should return a statement of every contested ballot, showing the reasons for which it was rejected, so that the contestant may take advantage of any error by the writ of certiorari to the circuit court. The statute cannot be so construed. The provision reads "as follows:

“ Said committee shall, in some public place, where such candidates and their counsel may be present if they so desire, without unnecessary delay, proceed to open the-ballot-boxes from such districts, townships, or wards, and to make a recount thereof as to such candidates, and make correct and full returns in writing under their hands to said board, showing the whole number of votes given, the names of the candidates, and the number of votes given to each, written out in words and figures as upon the ballots.”

The recount was had publicly, as the law provides, and each party inspected the disputed ballots, and therefore-obtained the evidence by which the election can be contested. This Court cannot, in this proceeding, be called upon to determine whether these ballots were in fact-ballots; that is, whether they were properly cast or not. The ballots themselves and the witnesses should be produced before the court where the contest is made. These ballots cannot be produced here, nor photographs made of them, so as to put this Court in possession of all the facts.

It follows that the relator’s remedy is by quo warranto,, and the writ must be denied.