§ 14-8. Contested elections.

(a)

The board of aldermen shall have the power to hear and determine all contested election cases in the city.

(b)

When any person desires to contest the election of another to any office in the city, he shall, within 48 hours after the board of aldermen has issued a certificate of election to another, file with the city clerk two notices of his intention to contest such election, which shall state specifically the grounds and reasons for such contest.

(c)

The city clerk shall immediately deliver one copy of such notice to the party whose election is contested, and at the next regular meeting of the board of aldermen, he shall lay the other copy before the board, with a certificate that he has served the opposite party with a like notice.

(d)

The board of aldermen shall immediately fix a time and place for hearing and determining such contest, and shall cause to be given to each party to the contest at least five days' notice thereof. For the purpose of determining and settling such contests, the board of aldermen shall have the power to examine ballots, poll books, take evidence and compel witnesses to attend and testify before it.

(e)

After the board of aldermen has heard the evidence offered by the parties to the contest, it shall issue to the party who appears in its judgment to be legally elected, a certificate of election and revoke any certificate of election that may have been issued to any person prior to the settlement of the contest.

(Code 1971, § 6-13; Code 1991, § 6-13)

State law reference

Election contests, RSMo 115.526 et seq.