In re Hearst

110 A.D. 346, 96 N.Y.S. 341, 1905 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3917

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: December 6, 1905
• Status: Published

Opinion

Laughlin, J.:

On the return of an order to show cause, supported by affidavits made in behalf of William Randolph Hearst, James Ford and James G. Phelps Stokes, candidates for mayor, comptroller and president of the board of aldermen of the city of Hew York respectively on the Municipal Ownership ticket at the general élection held on the 7th day of Hove'mber, 1905, the order of Hovember twenty-eighth was made directing that a peremptory writ of mandamus issue commanding the respondents, as the board of inspectors 'of election and poll clerks of election in the second election district of the' sixth assembly district in the county of Hew, York to meet at Special Term, Part 1,: at,two o’clock in the afternoon on the 1st day of December, 1905, and then and there recount and canvass the votes of the ballots cast in said election district on the 7th day of Hovember, 1905, in the manner provided by law, and make a true return thereof as prescribed by law, and that in so doing they take, consider and include in such canvass of votes the ballots, if any, now in the envelopes of void and protested ballots; that thereupon they may count as required bylaw and make and file the statements and tallies thereof as required "by law. ■ - ■

The order further provided:. “ That upon said recount and can vass such persons shall be admitted as are by law permitted to be present at a canvass of votes under the Election Law,” and directed that the county clerk then and there produce the envelope of void and protested ballots and the ballot clerks’ return of ballots voted in said district at said election, aiid that the board of elections of the city of New, York then and there produce the ballot box of said district,containing the ballots voted at said election- “together with the necessary blank statements of canvass and blank tally sheets for the use of sáid inspectors and poll clerks, and that thereupon, in the presence and full view of the persons aforesaid -and counsel for the parties fiereto, said box he opened, in order that said recount may be had,” " ;

The order resettling the first order was made on the application of the respondents, the inspectors of election and poll clerks, The order as resettled confined the recount or canvass to the votes cast for the offices of mayor, comptroller and president of the board of aldermen, and" directed that'all votes in the ballot box be counted as valid, “ and that no question shall, be raised as to the validity of the saíne, as to whether they were or should have been declared void, or whether they were-or should have been subject to protest; ” but otherwise it provided in all-respects the same as-the original order, except.that it gave leave to either party to apjply to the court, after the ballot, box shall have been reopened and: the votes shall have been- recounted or recanvassed, “ for further relief or direction at tiie "foot ” of the order.

The other material facts shown in tire moving affidavits as 'the basis,for this order are that the original ballot clerks’"return, and the original tally sheet “ do not in the sum of the total vote cast for all candidates for the office,'together with the number of ballots not wholly blank, on .which no vote was counted for the said offices the total number of .wholly blank, and the total number of void ballots and the votes cast,, if any, for candidates for such offices, whose names are not printed upon the ballot, correspond with the number of votes cast at said election as shown by said ballot clerks’return.” in that the latter shows that 3-7-9 votes were-cast and, said tally sheet accounts for 382 votes for the office of mayor, 380 for the office of comptroller, and 381 for the office of president of the board of aldermen.

The - applicants have appealed from the order as resettled, on account of the limitations not contained in the original order-; and the respondents have appealed from the entire order on the ground that it is unauthorized. Section 84 and subdivision 2 of section 103 of the Election Law (Laws of 1896, chap. 909) provide, among other things, that the ballot clerks shall immediately after the close of the polls prepare a certificate of the “ number of sets of official ballots actually voted,” to be- attached to the original statement of canvass made by the board of inspectors and to each copy thereof required to be made. Section 84 of the Election Law prescribes the form and contents of the tally sheets upon which the poll clerks are required to account for all the ballots voted, and provides that “ At the extreme right of such sheet there shall be a column headed, ‘ Total number of ballots accounted for,’ in which shall be entered opposite each office the sum of the total vote cast for all candidates for the office, together with the number of ballots not wholly blank, on which no vote was counted for that office, the total number of wholly blank, and the total number of void bailo t% and the votes cast, if any, for candidates for such office whose names are not printed upon the ballot. ■ Such sum must equal the number of ballots voted, as shown by the ballot clerTcs’ return of ballots, and if it does not, there has been a mistalce in the count, and the ballots must be recounted for such office. In case a person is voted for whose name is not printed on the ballot, the poll clerks, who shall keep the tally sheets, shall enter such name and the votes therefor on the tally sheet. The method of counting the votes shall be as provided in section one hundred and ten of the Election Law.”

- The word “ recounted ” as here used means not merely a mathematical count of the ballots or votes, but, as applied to this case, at least, it necessarily involves a recanvass of the votes. The statute presumes a mistake, not by the ballot clerks in making their return of the fotal number of ballots voted, but by the inspectors in canvassing and counting the votes. It would appear presumptively, therefore, either that there were more ballots in the box than there should have been, in which case it was the duty of the board of inspectors to withdraw and destroy the excess, or in case of two or more found folded together, as if voted together, to destroy all of those so folded together (Election Law, § 110, subd. 1, as amd. by Laws of 1898, chap. 335);, or that moré votes had been credited to some candidate or candidates for- these offices, or to blank or void ballots than should have been.. Thai was, of course, a grave error and should have been corrected, for otherwise three votes for the office of mayor, two for the office of president of the borough, and one for the office of comptroller, more than were cast, may have been'counted and wrongfully 'credited .to a candidate, and included in the original ■ and certified popíes of the return of canvass, from wlfich they will be likewise wrongfully credited to him in the final canvass, on the result of which the certificate of election depends. This omission of duty on the part of the inspectors subjected them to original prosecution for a violation of the requirements of a provision of the Election" Law. (Penal Code, §§.;41j, 41m.) The statute carefully provides how the canvass shall be made, and for each successive step until the proclamation of the result and the return of the canvass and .certified copies thereof are properly filled out, compared and signed. - Even though any member or members of the election board acted dishonestly in counting a. void ballot as valid, the watchers representing each .party and candidate were entitled to examine every ballot carefully .under such circumstances'that they could readily tell,, if tliey were properly instructed in advance, or even if they had casually read rule 9 of subdivision 2 of section 110, whether it was valid or void, and to make a ñpte of the number and of the mark, writing, erasure, defacement or tear which renders a ballot void. (Election Law, § 110, subd. 3, as amd. by Laws of 1898, chap. 335; Id. -subd. 2, rule 9, as amd. by Laws of 1901, chap. 654.)

The watchers not only'have the right, but it is-their duty* to draw the attention of the inspectors to void ballots, and to insist that they be.not counted, and if,-with the facts which render a ballot void thus drawn to their attention, the inspectors should persist in counting it, they would face a criminal prosecution without much hope of escape.

(Penal Code, supra.)

Although criminal prosecutions might avenge the wrong and afford a wholesome warning for the future, they would not rectify the wrong which was committed by the crime. These matters are alluded to merely as tending to show that the Legislature has intelligently- attempted to surround the canvass of votes with such safeguards as will ordinarily secure an honest count, and as suggesting the query as to whether it was contemplated that there might, under any circumstances, subsequently be a recanvass or a recount of the votes either at the volition of the inspectors or under the direction" of the court.

The provisions' of section 8f of the Election Law herein quoted "are the only statutory authority claimed to exist in support of the drder. It is not claimed, and of course could not be successfully maintained, that the court has any inherent power, after the board of inspectors have canvassed the votes and made the returns and adjourned, to' require a recount or recanvass of votes cast at an election. It is manifest that the Legislature contemplated that the duty thus enjoined upon the inspectors should be performed in the presence of the watchers and electors present before the original statement; of the canvass and certified copies thereof were made and before the ballots were placed and sealed in the ballot box and in the envelopes for void and protested ballots and before the members, of the board separated. The statute clearly defines void ballots and declares that they shall not be counted for any candidate (Election Law, § 110, subd. 2, rule 9, as amd. supra), and that they shall not be returned to the ballot box, but shall be inclosed in a separate sealed envelope with the protested ballots. (Election Law, § 111.)

Subdb bion 3 of section 110 of the Election Law (as amd. supra) provides, among other things, as.follows: “ "When a ballot is not void and an inspector of election or other election officer or duly authorized watcher shall, during the canvass of the vote, declare his belief that any particular ballot has been written upon or marked in any way for the purpose of identification, the inspectors shall write on the back of such ballot the words ‘ objected to because marked for identification,’ and shall specify over their signatures upon the back thereof the mark or marking upon such ballot to which objection is made. The votes upon each such ballot shall be counted by themj as if not so objected to.”

The inspectors are also prohibited from replacing the protested ballots in the ballot box, although they have been counted, and are required- to seal them iu a separate envelope with the void ballots. (Election Law, § 111.) The Legislature then provided for a review of the decision of the inspectors on the void and protested ballots and for' a recount of those ballots, should the court decide that any ballot regarded as void by the inspectors was valid, or shouM'the court decide that any protested ballot should not have been counted; and was careful to expressly provide that the inspectors of election and boards of canvassers “ shall continue in office for the purpose of such • proceedings.” -(Election Law, §. 114.) It thus appears that the Legislature had in mind that the boards of election inspectors'and boards of canvassérs having in. form completed their duties, might be regarded, as functus officio and that it was necessary or advisable that they should be continued in office (by. express legislation for a particular purpose which does not include a recounting of the ballots in the ballot box. If it were contemplated that the inspectors after, in form, completing their canvass and separating, might reassemble and recanvass the votes on discovering that they had com.mit-téd a. mistake or an error in law in declaring ballots void, or that the court might on opening the ballot boxes and inspecting the ballots - order, them so to do, it seems reasonable tó'suppose that like express statutory provision would have, been made therefor, and it would also seem reasonable, to. suppose that the Legislature would have made some provision by which tlie board of canvassers could accept from them a new return instead of, as it has, prescribing that the board of canvassers shall canvass the votes according to the original return or to one of the certified copies thereof! (Election Law, § 131,. as amd. by Laws of 1897, chap. 379; Id.\§ 135, subd. 8, as amd. by Laws of 1897, chap, 379; Id. § 1.37,/ as amd. by Laws of 1905, ' chap. 643; Id, § 138,- added by Laws of 1897., chap. 379, and amd. by Laws of .1901, chap. 95.) We, however, look in yarn for any provision of statutory law indicating that "the Legislature contemplated any such procedure. The legislative intent to the-contrary, however, is, I think, clearly shown in the Election Law. Subdivision 1 of section 110 of the statute (as amd. supra) provides in part, as follows: “.As soon as the polls of an election are closed the inspectors of election thereat shall publicly .ccmvass and ascertain the voteé and not adjourn or postpone the canvass until it shall be ffilly completed. Any election.pffi.cer who shall sign any original statement of canvass or certified copies thereof at any place -other than the polling-place, or at any time other than immediately after the canvass is completed, and any election officer or person who shall take from the polling-place any such statement before it shall have been signed as herein provided, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished upon conviction thereof by imprisonment in a State prison for not less than two nor more than five years.”

Section 111 of the Election Law requires the inspectors, upon the completion of the canvass, to make and sign an original statement of the canvass and two certified copies thereof, and, in connection with section 84 of the statute, prescribes the form and contents thereof and, in connection with subdivision 2 of section 113 of the statute (as amd. by Laws of 1901, chap. 95), in a case like the present one in the city of New York, directs where, when and by whom the same shall be filed. The canvassing boards, by whom the votes are finally tabulated and the result of the election declared and certificates thereof issued to the candidate receiving the greater number of votes, are required to use and follow these original statenients of the canvass or certified copies thereof (Election Law, §§ 131, 135,137, 138, as amd. swpra), and there is no provision of statutory law by which they may be disregarded, amended, modified or another statement substituted therefor, except in the single instance of the recanvass of void and protested ballots under an order of the court as already shown and for the correction of clerical errors. (See Election Law, §§ 114, 132, 133.) Nor is there any provision of statutory law by which the inspectors may regain the custody of the ballot box or giving them the right to open the same to recount or recanvass the votes or for any other purpose. The only statutory provision conferring upon the court authority to direct that a ballot box be opened is contained in section 111 of the Election Law as follows : “ Forthwith upon the completion of such original statement and of such certified copies thereof and the proclamation of the result qf the election as to each candidate, the ballots voted, except the void and protested ballots, shall be replaced in the box from which they were taken, together with a statement as to the number of such ballots so replaced." Each such box shall be securely locked and sealed, and shall be deposited with the officer or board furnishing such- boxes. They shall be preserved inviolate for six months after spell election and may he opened p/nd their contents examined upon the order of the- Supreme Court or a justice thereof,-or a county judge of such county, and at the,expiration of such time the ballots may be disposed of in the discretion of -the. officer or board having charge of them,”

The purpose of the Legislature in enacting these provisions is riot ■clearly declared therein, but is to be gleaned from a consideration of the entire Election Law and other laws of the State. We think, full, scope may be given thereto without attributing to the Legislature an intent to authorize the opening of the ballot boxes for the purpose of a recount or recanvass of the votes de novo by the election officers.’ It might become important in a criminal prosecution, a rpio warranto'proceeding, a legislative or congressional investigation,. to determiné the validity of the election of á member of the Legislature or of Congress, and perhaps in other cases, to have the--ballot boxes opened to use the ballots as evidence.

We are of opinion that, if it be competent for the court to direct the election officers to. now perform the statutory duty- they should have performed election evening, their sole guide in the- performance- of that duty must be the statute, and the court is without authority to impose any limitation thereon. If the election officers; are to be reconvened under the mandate of the court to recount the ■ votes, on account of the discrepancy between the ballot clerks’ return and the tally sheets, it-is manifest, I think,, that they are then in precisely the same situation as they-were on election night before, filling out and signing the original statement of the canvass and certified copies thereof. If that be so, it follows that on, the recount required by the statute to discover their mistake they not only would have the right, but it would be their duty., to reject from the count any void ballot that had been previously overlooked or erroneously counted. As has been seen, the order contemplates that theinspect- - ors aré tq proceed de novo to perform their statutory duty -as of election night,- and to make and - file an original statement of the canvass and certified copies thereof, as if. none had been - made, except that the resettled order limits their functions to the votes-for" the three offices in question, but in ordering the inspectors to per- • form one statutory duty the court has forbidden them to perform others, which are that they must not count void ballots, and they must-on the request of any election officer or watcher, as provided in the statute, place in a separate sealed envelope with the void ballots all protested ballots.. It is evident, therefore, that if there be, any authority to order a recount in compliance with section 84 of the. Election Law the order should not limit the statutory duty of the inspectors on the recount.

If this question were now presented to the courts for the first time we would be guided by our own judgment, as herein hastily, briefly and imperfectly indicated, and vacate the order upon the ground that it is unauthorized, for that is our firm conviction. To permit such proceedings by mandamus means the destruction of the elaborate scheme worked out by degrees by successive Legislatures to secure a prompt and simultaneous count and declaration of the result on election night. It will substitute therefor by decision of the court a protracted "judicial canvass of the votes in every eléction district of the State. The resulting delay, uncertainty and public ■ anxiety can readily be foreseen.

It appears, however, that a majority of the members of the Court of Appeals, in People ex rel. Brink v. Way (179 N. Y. 174), have, in a dictum, expressed the opinion that mandamus would lie to compel a compliance on the part of the inspectors with this very provision of section 84 of the Election Law, and the .Appellate Division in the second department, within the boundaries of which are very many election districts wherein these same candidates were voted for, and wherein the same questions may arise, has decided, in a case not distinguishable in principle from the one at- bar, that this remedy exists to compel the performance of said statutory duty, (Matter of Stiles, 69 App. Div. 589.) We, therefore, feel constrained to follow the decision of the second department. But, as we regard its doctrine unsound, a stay of proceedings should be granted, to the end that before the inspectors are obliged to comply therewith, the Court of Appeals may, on an appeal from our order, which should be taken and brought on for argument immediately, definitely decide this question of such great public-importance.

It follows, therefore, that the order. should be modified by conforming it to the order as originally entered, except that the words “ or recanvass” should be stricken out, confining the direction to a “recount,” as prescribed in tlie statute,'and as so modified affirmed, on the authority of Matter of Stiles (supra), with ten dollars -costs and disbursements.to the applicants. , ¡

O’Brien, ' P. J., Patterson, Ingraham and Clarke, JJ., concurred.

Order modified as directed in opinion, and as modified affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements to the applicants.