Legal Definitions - election contest

Definition: An election contest is a legal challenge made by the losing candidate against the winner of an election. The challenge calls for a review of the election results, which may include examining voter qualifications or recounting the ballots.

Example: In a recent mayoral election, the losing candidate filed an election contest, claiming that there were irregularities in the voting process. The court ordered a recount of the ballots, and after the recount, the original winner was confirmed as the true winner.

Explanation: This example illustrates how an election contest can be used to challenge the results of an election. The losing candidate believed that there were issues with the voting process, and the court ordered a recount to ensure that the election was fair and accurate.

Example: In another election, a candidate filed an election contest, claiming that some voters were not eligible to vote because they did not meet the residency requirements. The court reviewed the voter qualifications and found that some voters were indeed ineligible, which changed the outcome of the election.

Explanation: This example shows how an election contest can be used to challenge the eligibility of voters. The court reviewed the qualifications of the voters and found that some were not eligible, which affected the outcome of the election.