§ 5945 — Statement of contestant; contents

When any person authorized to do so under this chapter desires to contest the right of any person declared duly elected to such office, that contesting person shall, within 20 days after the result of the election shall have been officially ascertained by the board of canvass, or officers legally authorized to ascertain the same, and at least 60 days before the first day of the term of court at which the contest shall be tried or called for trial, file with the Prothonotary in the county in which the contest is made a full, particular and explicit statement setting forth fully and specifically the names of any and all election officers upon the malconduct of whom the contesting persons will rely and respecting which the contesting person intends to procure evidence, and setting forth the election districts of such election officers and the particular malconduct of each, respectively, the names and residences of the witnesses and the substance of their testimony, by whom the contesting person expects to prove such malconduct. If such contest is based upon ineligibility of a person to hold the office, the statement shall specifically, fully and explicitly state the grounds and causes of the ineligibility of the person whose right to the office is contested. When such contest is based on alleged bribe or reward or the offer of a bribe or reward, the statement shall explicitly, fully and clearly state the name of any elector, election officer or other person to whom any bribe or reward shall have been offered and the time, place and amount of such bribe or reward and the name and residence of the witnesses by whom the contestant expects to prove the offering of any bribe or reward, with a brief statement of their testimony. When the contest shall be on the ground of illegal votes, the statement shall specifically, fully and explicitly set forth the names, residences and respective causes of disqualification of each person alleged to have illegally voted, the polls at which such illegal vote has been received, the names of the election officers favoring the acceptance of such vote, whether such vote was challenged by the duly accredited challenger of the party of which the contestant was the candidate, and whether all the judges or inspectors present at such polls concurred in accepting and receiving such vote. If it appears that all of such judges or inspectors concurred in accepting or receiving such vote or that the right of the voters, respectively, to deposit such votes was not at the time challenged by the duly accredited challenger of the party of which the contestant was a candidate, the legality or illegality of such vote shall not be brought into question in any such contest. The statement shall further set forth the names and residences of the witnesses who shall be produced on behalf of the contestant to prove such illegal votes and the substance of the testimony to be given by each.

Legislative History

17 Del. Laws, c. 33, § 6 ; 19 Del. Laws, c. 572, § 1 ; Code 1915, § 1905; Code 1935, § 2023; 15 Del. C. 1953, § 5945; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1