Summary
refusing to issue a writ of mandamus where election ballots had been printed and absentee voting had already commenced
Summary of this case from State ex rel. Baker v. City of Brook ParkOpinion
No. 25059
Decided October 26, 1934.
Mandamus — Issuance of writ discretionary — Delay in instituting action — Inability to comply if writ issued — Elections — Reprinting ballots to correct error in arrangement of candidates' names.
IN MANDAMUS.
Mr. Murray Seasongood and Mr. Sanford A. Headley, for relators.
Mr. John W. Bricker, attorney general, Mr. William S. Evalt, Mr. Thomas M. Miller, Mr. Louis J. Schneider, prosecuting attorney, Mr. Walter M. Locke, Mr. Gregg H. Williams and Mr. Walton H. Bachrach, for respondents.
The petition, filed in this court on October 22, 1934, fifteen days before the general election to be held on November 6, 1934, alleges that relators were nominated for county offices, representing a group called the Citizens, and their names appear in a separate column on the ballot not headed by a circle or emblem such as appears on the Republican and Democratic ballots; that the Secretary of State certified to the Hamilton County Board of Elections and that board has printed ballots which were contrary to the provisions of Section 4785-109, General Code; and that the provisions of that section were not followed in the arrangement of the names of county offices. The relators pray for a writ of mandamus commanding the Secretary of State and the Board of Elections of Hamilton county to place and print the names of candidates for county office in Hamilton county in the order required by that statute, opposite the names of the respective offices to which they have been nominated, and to furnish said ballots to the electors of said county on November 6, 1934.
The answer alleges that the Secretary of State, in compliance with the provisions of Section 4785-95, General Code, certified the form of the official ballot complained of to the Board of Elections of Hamilton county at least forty days before the ensuing general election; that the identical form was certified to every Board of Elections in the eighty-eight counties of this state; that on or before thirty days before the forthcoming general election the finished printed ballots were delivered to the Board of Elections of Hamilton county, and absent voters' ballots have been sent out to the number of two hundred and sixteen; that ample opportunity was given by law to the relators to question or object to the matters concerning which they now complain prior to the printing of said ballots and prior to the time fixed by law for casting absent voters' ballots. The answer then pleads laches and estoppel.
Objection not having been made to the form of the ballots not later than forty days before the election, the ballots having been printed and absent voters' ballots having been cast, the respondents could not legally comply with a writ of mandamus should one issue, and this court would be powerless to enforce obedience thereto. State, ex rel. Vail, v. Fulton, Secy. of State, 97 Ohio St. 325.
The issuance of the extraordinary writ of mandamus rests in the sound discretion of the court, which may refuse to issue the writ in favor of a relator who has allowed an unreasonable time to elapse before bringing his action. Chinn v. Trustees, 32 Ohio St. 236; State, ex rel. Smith, v. Witter, Dir., 114 Ohio St. 357.
It is clear that it would be impossible to meet the requirements of statute governing elections and reprint the ballots in time for the election. It therefore appears that any decision that this court might make would be merely upon an abstract proposition of law which this court will not do. Miner v. Witt, 82 Ohio St. 237.
It is therefore ordered and adjudged that, upon the undisputed facts, the writ of mandamus prayed for be, and the same hereby is, denied.
Writ denied.
WEYGANDT, C.J., STEPHENSON, JONES, MATTHIAS, ZIMMERMAN and WILKIN, JJ., concur.
BEVIS, J., not participating.