Houston v. Steele | Cases | Westlaw

At the November election, 1892, the appellants composed the canvassing board of elections for Boyd county, and on the day provided by law the returns of the various precincts at that election were presented to them for their official action. They found before them the stub books of the various precincts, containing the proper official certificates of the number of votes cast, and for whom, together with four sealed envelopes from precincts 2, 3, 8, and 9, purporting to contain “doubtful or questionable ballots,” properly indorsed by the respective precinct officers. At that election the appellee, Steele, and one Meade, were rival candidates for circuit court clerk; and on the face of the returns, as shown by the stub books alone, Steele had received 1,542, and Meade 1,541, votes. The board then proceeded to canvass the doubtful ballots, counting 6 for Steele, 10 for Meade,–including 2 given him by the precinct officers, and therefore included in his vote of 1,541,–and rejecting 15 others. This elected Meade by 1 vote, and his certificate of election was issued to him accordingly. Thereupon Steele filed his petition in equity in the Boyd circuit court against the members of the board, in which he set out, in substance, the facts stated above, and in which he questioned the right of the board to canvass or consider the doubtful ballots. He claimed his own election and right to the certificate, and asked that the board, by mandamus, be compelled to meet again, recanvass the vote, and give to him the certificate of election, and that the board be directed not to count for Meade certain named ballots, or any ballots, unless without distinguishing marks, and marked with the cross in the way provided by law. After the disposition of some preliminary motions affecting the notice for the mandamus, and an order overruling a demurrer to the petition, an answer was filed, without objection to the form of the action, in which Meade was alleged to have in fact received the highest number of votes, as shown by the returns, and was, therefore, entitled to the certificate. The details of the canvass of the returns were set out, and the fact admitted that the doubtful ballots had been canvassed as part of the returns. Upon final hearing the court granted the writ, and directed the canvassers to meet at a time certain, and proceed to canvass the returns of the election in question. They were further directed to count, of the doubtful ballots, 2 for Steele, known in the record as “S 1” and “S 2,” and 2 for Meade, known as “M 1” and “M 2,” and no others for either of the candidates. The court further adjudged that as Steele had received 1,544 votes, and Meade 1,543 votes, the former was entitled to a certificate of election, and the board was directed to issue it to him. From this judgment the members of the board have prosecuted this appeal.

It will be seen that the learned trial judge upholds the right of the board to open the sealed envelopes and canvass the doubtful ballots. If he is right in determining this to be its duty, an inspection of the ballots (the originals being before us) will readily show whether or not his award of the certificate was to the proper candidate. This inspection we will postpone until we have determined the more important question presented in the record, of whether the canvassing board was authorized to canvass, as a part of the election returns, the doubtful or questioned ballots. The law affecting the disposition of these ballots, and the duty of the precinct officers with respect thereto, is found in the Kentucky Statutes, as follows:

“Sec. 1482. When the polls are closed the officers of election shall, in the voting room, immediately count the votes, and certify the same as hereinafter provided; and no adjournment shall be had until the same is completed. When the result of the ballot is ascertained, it shall be immediately announced by one of the judges in front of the voting room, and thereupon the judges shall, in the presence of the clerk, sheriff and the inspectors provided for in the preceding section, destroy the ballots voted, mutilated or spoiled, and the ballots remaining unvoted: provided, that if there are any ballots cast and counted, or left uncounted, concerning the legality or regularity of which there is any doubt or difference of opinion in the minds of the judges of election, said ballots shall not be destroyed, but sealed up and returned to the clerk of the county court, with the returns of the election, for such judicial or other investigation as may be necessary, with a true statement as to whether they have or have not been counted, and if counted, what part, and for whom.

“Sec. 1483. *** When the foregoing requirements have been complied with, the judges shall deliver the stub book containing the foregoing returns, together with the undestroyed ballots, enclosed in an envelope, to the sheriff of election before they separate.”

“Sec. 1508. Within two days next after an election the sheriff shall deposit with the *8 clerk of the county court the returns of the different precincts. On the next day the board shall meet in the clerk's office, between ten and twelve o'clock in the morning, open and canvass the returns of such election, and give triplicate or more written certificates of election over their signatures of those who have received the highest number of votes for any office,” etc.

It will be noticed that nowhere in the law are the doubtful or questioned ballots to be separated from the stub book containing the other returns of the election. They are to be sealed up, and, with the stub book, delivered to the sheriff. That officer must then deposit with the clerk of the county court “the returns of the different precincts.” The word “returns,” as here used, must include the undestroyed ballots, for otherwise there is no law directing the sheriff what to do with them; and, immediately following the clause so using that word, we find the direction to the canvassing board “to open and canvass the returns of such election.” The returns deposited by the sheriff would therefore seem to be the returns to be canvassed by the board. And if these, in the one instance, when the statute defines the sheriff's duties, include the doubtful and questioned ballots, they must be held to do so in the other, when the same section of the statute defines the duties of the board. While this conclusion would seem to be logical enough, when looking to the very language of the law, it may be admitted to involve a somewhat narrow construction, if not otherwise supported; and clearly it would not be in the way of a different construction, if the duty of merely canvassing the returns, which is confessedly the whole duty of the board, cannot be held to embrace a revision or correction of the action of the precinct officers in counting or rejecting doubtful or questioned ballots. It has been said often by this court, and at least once since the adoption of the present election law, that the duties of this board are purely ministerial. Clark v. McKenzie, 7 Bush, 523; Broadus v. Mason, 25 S. W. 1060. And this fact is supposed to prevent the exercise on the part of this tribunal of the revisory or correcting power in question. It is evident, however, that even under the old law controlling the canvassing board, when its duty was mostly to “compare the polls and ascertain the correctness of the summing up of the votes” (section 2, art. 5, c. 33, Gen. St.), this power was exercised without question. The board overlooked and supervised the figures returned before it, if mistakes were found, and in this way it added to or subtracted from the official statement of votes returned by the precinct officers, and issued certificates of election accordingly. It determined whether or not the returns were genuine, and, in doing this, was governed by legal principles. It acted on the face of the returns, it is true, but so would it if held to have the power to canvass the undestroyed ballots returned by the sheriff as part of the election returns. It can hear no proof, and send for no papers or persons. It acts on the face of the stub book and the ballots, when returned as the law requires, and with the “true statement” demanded by the statute. Practically, owing to the voter's failure to mark the ballot precisely as the law requires, his intention may be left in doubt; but theoretically the duty of the board, in its disposition of the ballot, is simple enough. The statute is exact, showing just how the ballots are to be marked; and the act of looking at them, and, from the physical condition, assorting them,–counting those which, on the face, conform to the statute, and rejecting those which do not,–involves no more discretion than do the acts of sheriff and of other purely ministerial officers in the daily discharge of their duties. That the duty in question must be performed by the exercise of intelligence, sense, and judgment, is no reason for saying that the function of the board is a judicial one. We do not find, therefore, that from the nature of the acts required of the board, if it be held to possess the power to canvass the whole of the returns, we are to say it is no longer a ministerial, but a judicial, body.

We may notice here a provision of the statute which may be thought to militate somewhat against the right of the board to canvass the undestroyed ballots. When they are sealed up, they are to be returned to the clerk of the county court “for such judicial or other investigation as may be necessary.” It is clear, however, that this provision does not in terms preclude the canvass, nor does it seem to do so by implication. They are to be preserved because their legality or regularity is questioned, and they are to constitute a part of the returns to be made by the proper officer; and without reference to whether they are canvassed, or not, by the county board, they may be the subject of judicial or other investigation, such as this case illustrates, or such as would be illustrated if the case was before a board of contest. The words, “judicial or other investigation as may be necessary,” do not appear to be exclusive of other uses to which the preserved ballots may be put; but, when returned and canvassed, they are still to be preserved for the uses designated.

From these various premises, we conclude, not only that there is nothing in the statute itself at all precluding the board from canvassing these undestroyed ballots, but that the statute itself, in its very letter, provides for such a canvass of them, as part of the returns; and furthermore, looking at the intention of the lawmakers to provide an honest and fair election, we believe there are many reasons why such a construction should be adopted. In the first place, and repeating somewhat, we have seen that these ballots are included in the term “returns,” *9 as used in the statute, to be delivered by the sheriff to the proper office, and then to be canvassed by the board. Secondly, they are the ballots of voters, cast, it may be, in such fashion as to excite a “doubt or difference of opinion” in the mind of a precinct officer, but, most likely, not so as to make it “impossible to determine the voter's choice.” If such choice can be determined from an inspection of the ballot, the candidate is entitled to have it counted before the certificate of election–an important and valuable paper–is issued, and likewise to have it rejected if not a legal ballot. Thirdly, it is apparent that these ballots ought to be opened and canvassed at the earliest possible moment allowed by law after the close of the polls. If they are to be returned, and kept in the clerk's office for an indefinite length of time, with the fate of the election depending on their appearance, when opened after weeks of delay before the contesting board, the “investigation” they are apt to have undergone in the meantime is not such as will likely promote an altogether fair count. The law makes no special provision for their safety during this period of delay, but if they are opened and canvassed at once, with the other votes, and while responsibility for their safe–keeping for this limited period is directly placed on the sheriff and clerk, the danger of their being tampered with is very greatly lessened. This opening and canvassing will be done publicly, and in the presence of the parties immediately interested, if they desire it; and the condition of disputed ballots, if important, may be accurately noted. In the fourth place we have seen that these ballots are sealed up by the precinct officers in an envelope, and delivered to the sheriff at the close of the polls. They are to be preserved by him in that condition until delivered to the county court clerk, and this officer is still under the same injunction. He is not authorized to open the envelopes, or allow any one else to do so; and unless they are to be treated as part of the “returns of the election,” and delivered to the canvassing board, the clerk must continue to preserve them in the condition in which he received them. The result would seem to be that no candidate or person, properly interested though he may be in using them as the basis of a proposed contest of the election, which is allowed him by law, can inspect them for that purpose; and yet the law exacts of the contestant, within a limited time, a notice setting forth the precise grounds of his contest, and none other than those contained in his notice shall afterwards be heard. Section 1535, St. Ky. While the contestant may have other grounds, not affected by these ballots, it is known that they in fact furnish the most fruitful source of contention; and in no other way than that by which the canvassing board may open and consider these returns, can the contestant comply with the exactions of the law in giving his notice. And this furnishes us strong reason to believe that such a canvass was intended by the statute. We are of opinion, therefore, that the learned trial judge properly upheld the right of the board to canvass the whole of the returns, and that, as a body of ministerial officers, it was controllable by mandamus.

The only remaining question is, did the board perform its duty correctly, and issue its certificate to Meade as the person receiving the highest number of votes? It it did, Steele has no cause of complaint, and the judgment below, erroneously directing a recanvass of the votes, and the issual of a certificate of election to him, must be reversed. If, however, Steele received the highest number of votes, as determined by the inferior court, the judgment must be affirmed, leaving to that court the enforcement of the mandate requiring the canvassing board–whoever may now compose it–to recanvass the vote as directed in the judgment, and issue its certificate to Steele. As already indicated, there were 31 ballots returned with the statement required by law; and of these, an inspection discloses, 7 were not marked at all,–the voters apparently forgetting to stamp or mark the blanks anywhere, or in any way. The balance of them are claimed, with more or less earnestness, by the one or the other candidate. The provisions of the statute controlling the question at hand are as follows:

“Sec. 1471. *** On receipt of his ballot the elector shall forthwith, and without leaving the room, retire alone to one of the voting booths, as provided, and shall prepare his ballot by marking in the appropriate square a cross mark (X) immediately following the name of the candidate of his choice for such office to be filled, and in case of a question submitted to the vote of the people, by marking in the appropriate square a cross mark (X) against the answer which he desires to give. Should any elector desire to vote for each and every candidate of one party, he shall make a cross mark (X) in a large square embracing the device and preceding the title under which the candidates of said party are printed, and the vote shall then be counted for all the candidates under that title: provided, however, that if a cross mark (X) be made in the large square including the device of such party, and a cross mark be also marked in the square after the name of one or more candidates of a different party or parties, the vote shall be counted for the candidate so marked, and not for the candidate for the same office of the party so marked; but the vote shall be counted for the other candidates under such party name or designation. If the elector mark more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or if, for any reason, it is impossible to determine the voter's choice for an office to *10 be filled, his ballot shall not be counted for such office. No ballot shall be rejected for any technical error which does not make it impossible to determine the voter's choice. Nothing in this law contained shall be so construed as to prevent a voter from voting for any qualified person other than those whose names are printed on the ballots for any office to be filled, by writing with black lead pencil, under the designation of the office, the name of such person and placing to the right of such name a (X) mark. All marking upon the ballot shall be made with black ink stencil. There shall be kept in each booth the necessary stencils and pencils, to be securely fastened by a string or cord of sufficient length to enable the voters to use the same.”

“Sec. 1473. *** If any elector spoil or deface a ballot by mistake, so that it cannot be used, he may return it, and receive in place thereof, one other ballot; and the fact shall be noted by the clerk by writing the word ‘spoiled’ on the stub and spoiled ballot.”

“Sec. 1569. *** No voter shall place any mark upon his ballot, or suffer or permit any other person to do so, by which it may be afterward identified as the one voted by him. ***

“Sec. 1570. If any person shall induce, or attempt to induce, any elector to write, paste, or otherwise place on his ballot the name of any person or any sign or device of any kind, as a distinguishing mark by which to indicate to any other person how such elector has voted, such person so offending shall be guilty of a felony and on conviction, be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than five years. Any ballot having any of the distinguishing marks mentioned in this section shall not be counted for any candidate voted for at that election.”

A portion of the ballot used, which, if extended to the right, would show the devices of the People's ticket and others, is here produced, in order that the location of the mark, etc., may be better understood.

Of the 24 ballots remaining, the following 5 should be counted for Steele: Ballots numbered “R 16” and “R 18,” which are each marked with a black lead pencil cross (+) in the large square containing the eagle,–the Republican device, and with no other marks. In State v. Russell, 34 Neb. 116, 51 N. W. 465, the provision requiring the marking to be done in ink was held to be directory only, and ballots, if in other respects regular, will, in the absence of fraud, be counted, although marked with a pencil. See, also, Grant v. McCallum, 12 Can. Law J. (N. S.) 113. Also, ballot S 1, which has the stencil cross mark just outside, and to the right of the square containing the eagle, but just above the letters “et,” in “Ticket.” Also, ballot S 2, which has the cross under the Democratic device, but which has it also immediately across the top of Steele's small square in the Republican column. Also ballot “C, spoiled,” which is marked with a solid, irregular black figure, evidently made with a stencil by writing, or turning it in the voter's hands, or perhaps, when too much ink was on the stencil, by mashing or pressing it down very hard. The marking was not delicately done, but the intention of the voter is manifest. Next, we have three ballots, R 6, R 7, and R 8, probably intended for the entire Republican ticket, and hence for Steele, but which could only be counted for “Morrow,” the name of the first Republican presidential elector. They are each marked in the small square immediately to the right of Morrow's name, and nowhere else. Ordinarily, to say that a ballot shows it was probably intended for a certain purpose is sufficient to require it to be counted, because, if probably so intended, it would not seem to be impossible to determine

Of the remaining 16 ballots, the following 11 should be counted for Meade: Ballots R 11 and R 14, marked with black lead pencil cross mark in large square containing Democratic device, and in no other way. Ballot R 9, marked same as last named, save that the horizontal line of the cross has two down strokes on it, thus ​​; and in this connection we notice ballot R 13, marked in the large square of the Democratic device with three cross marks in pencil, thus: + + +. The question as to these ballots is not whether the intent of the voter is sufficiently shown,–for that is beyond dispute,–but whether these marks are “distinguishing” marks, signs, or devices, within the meaning of the statute. Fortunately, we are not without direct authority on this point. Under a similar statute, the court, in Woodward v. Sarsons, L. R. 10 C. P. 733, cited in notes to Rutledge v. Crawford, 91 Cal. 526, 27 Pac. 779, 13 Lawy. Rep. Ann. 762, held that the “use of two or three crosses, instead of one, or of a peculiar form of the cross mark,” will not invalidate the ballot, without evidence of intent to distinguish it. So in the Nebraska case, already cited, it is said: “It is not every mark by means of which a ballot might subsequently be identified which is a violation of the statute. The mark prohibited by law is such a one, whether letters, figures, or character, as shows an intention on the part of the voter to distinguish his particular ballot from others of its class, and not one that is common to, and not distinguishable from, others of a designated class. The fact that a number of ballots are, without any evidence of fraudulent intention on the part of the voters, distinguishable from others cast at the same polling places,–as, for instance, marked with a pencil or with ink of a different color,–does not bring them within either the letter or spirit of the statute.” Ballot M 1, marked with stencil cross near the bottom, and to the right of the large square containing the Democratic device, and just a little to the right of the letter “T” in “Ticket,” and no other marks. Ballot B, counted by precinct officers, and marked in same place as last ballot M 1, except the stencil failed to make the cross complete. The same description may be given of the mark on ballot R 1, except that the imperfectly made cross is lower down, and is opposite the words “Electors for President and Vice President,” under the words “Democratic Ticket.” The mark is within the Democratic column, and just above the small square opposite the name of the first elector. Ballot M 2 is stamped properly in the large square containing the Democratic device, and also to the left and below the name of the Republican candidate for sheriff. There are some ordinary ink blots on this ballot, and several pencil check marks, thus ✓, near the names of five of the candidates on the Democratic ticket, but none near the name of Meade or Steele. These blots and marks appear to have been accidental. In Rutledge v. Crawford, cited above, it is said: “It is not doubted, as was argued here, that tickets may be marked as these were for the purpose of distinguishing them from other ballots, and to be furnished only to a certain class of voters. But, in the absence of any proof tending to show this, the presumption must be that such impression was the result of accident.” And where a ballot “had upon its back a very small piece of red sealing wax, and another a small stain, as if made by a drop of oil, or something of that nature,” the court held that it was far more reasonable to suppose these marks were placed there accidentally, than that they were intended to distinguish the ballots, or impart knowledge of the person who voted them. Ballot R 15, marked with black lead pencil cross in large square containing Republican device, but also in same way in Meade's square. We have already indicated that such pencil marks were sufficiently regular to be counted. Ballot A counted by precinct officers, is marked with stencil cross just under the words “Democratic Ticket,” and above the words, “Electors for President and Vice President.” Ballot R 24 is marked with a red pencil cross in Meade's square, and in like manner for two other Democratic candidates, and has no other marks, except some apparently accidental ink blots. The effect of the use of ink of different colors is disposed of in the Nebraska case cited, and we do not think the pencil mark, as made here, in the absence of proof showing a design to distinguish, invalidates the ballot. Of these 11 votes, 2 of them were given Meade by the precinct officers, leaving 9 to be added to those given him by the certificates of these officers; increasing his total vote to 1,550 votes, and giving him a majority of 3 over Steele.

The remaining 5 ballots were marked with the usual stencil cross towards the head of the Democratic column, but somewhat more irregularly than the ones considered. Their validity need not be determined.

This case has been considered on petition for a rehearing by Steele, a former opinion having reversed the judgment for reasons not now appearing satisfactory to us. That opinion is withdrawn, and, as it has been demonstrated that Meade was entitled to the certificate of election issued to him by the canvassing board, the judgment below is reversed, with directions to dismiss the petition. Rehearing denied.