ÿWPC …# VUFa %§ 07­äO 4R f u u w} 0J™ 0Tã 0^7 0h• 0rý 0|o 0†ë 0q 1u U,v 0d¢ U,U62B)hDC‘ AMÔ B! 0U>U*“ÿ½‡¼ D3Cfvv~Ü 0@ZvÓš AOmƼ 0D‚ D/Æ Bõ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX&âõ$¡Ñ€²Ñ Ö€ÿÿÖ EÝ ƒ&¦)ÝÝ  Ýà@°°*ìàÚ  Ú2Ú  Ú»~g 3|xõDö÷eøÓ€2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ d(-3¦$©©Ý ƒâõ!ÝÑ€²ÑÝ  Ý< Œ 9p`(Arial õÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÔ€'ÔÔ€'ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€'XÔÌÌò òMarch€18,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€'ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó }Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ&)ÝÝ  Ýà@ àÚ  ÚÚ  Ú%%%%'ÿÿdxd \Ñ\R AØ'\ÑPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA: T Monaco ÒÒ  BA: T Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€  X„d&ÓÑ#€  Xd#ÑÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÒ Ü ÒÒ ° ÒÙ€€ÙÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑßL€$(#;+'h|` Å `€€LßÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OFÏTENNESSEE€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌWAYNE€LEE€and€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€€CLAIBORNE€CHANCERYÌC.€EDDIE€SHOFFNER€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€€CA€No.€03A01„9512„CH„00430Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€Plaintiffs„Appellants€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:ÌROBERT€TUTTLE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€€HON.€BILLY€J.€WHITEÌJAMES€K.€LOOPE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€€CHANCELLORÌELEANOR€Y.€BREEDING,€€€€€€€€:ÌSTEWART€COLLINGSWORTH,€€€€€€:ÌBETTY€MANNING,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌBILLY€RAY€CHEEK,€and€€€€€€€€:ÌBRUCE€SEAL€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€€:€€€€€REVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌMICHAEL€G.€HATMAKER,€OF€JACKSBORO,€TENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLANTÏWAYNE€LEEÌÌMARK€C.€TRAVIS,€WITH€WIMBERLY€&€LAWSON,€OF€MORRISTOWN,ÏTENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLANT€C.€EDDIE€SHOFFNERÌÌA.€BENJAMIN€STRAND,€JR.,€WITH€STRAND€AND€GODDARD,€OF€DANDRIDGE,ÏTENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLEES€BILLY€RAY€CHEEK€AND€BRUCE€SEALÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Sanders,€Sp.J.ÌÌÌÖ€)ÖÓÓà àà àThe€Plaintiffs€have€appealed€from€a€decree€at€theÏclose€of€their€proof€dismissing€their€complaint€in€an€electionÏcontest.€€We€reverse€and€remand.Ìà àà àIn€a€general€election€held€in€Claiborne€County€onÏAugust€4,€1994,€the€Plaintiff„Appellant,€Wayne€Lee,€was€aÏcandidate€for€the€office€of€circuit€court€clerk.€€The€Defendant„Appellee,€Billy€Ray€Cheek,€was€also€a€candidate€for€circuitÏcourt€clerk€and,€according€to€the€election€returns,€receivedÏapproximately€79€more€votes€than€Plaintiff€Lee.€€In€the€sameÏelection,€Plaintiff„Appellant€C.€Eddie€Shoffner€was€a€candidateÏfor€the€office€of€sheriff€of€Claiborne€County€and€Defendant„Appellee€Bruce€Seal€was€also€a€candidate€for€the€office€ofÏsheriff€of€Claiborne€County€and,€according€to€the€electionÏreturns,€received€approximately€169€votes€more€than€€PlaintiffÏShoffner.ÌÌà àà àDefendants„Appellees,€Robert€Tuttle,€James€K.€Loope,ÏEleanor€Y.€Breeding,€and€Stewart€Collingsworth€were€the€electionÏcommissioners€for€Claiborne€County€and€Defendant€Betty€ManningÏwas€registrar€at€large€for€the€county.ÌÌà àà àOn€August€9,€1994,€the€Plaintiffs€filed€an€electionÏcontest€of€the€August€4€election€in€the€chancery€court€forÏClaiborne€County€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€2„17„101,€et€seq.,€againstÏthe€Defendants€named€above.€€In€their€complaint,€they€alleged,Ïin€addition€to€the€facts€stated€above,€that€in€excess€of€8,200Ïpeople€cast€ballots€in€the€election€and€of€this€total€more€thanÏ2,500€votes€were€cast€on€paper€ballots€by€virtue€of€"early"€orÏ"absentee"€voting.€€There€was€also€a€heavy€write„in€vote€cast€onÏpaper€ballots€in€addition€to€the€"early"€and€"absentee"€ballots.€ÏThey€alleged€the€counting€of€the€paper€ballots€occurred€in€theÏoffice€of€the€election€commission€in€the€afternoon€of€August€4Ïand€continued€for€some€30€hours€until€the€afternoon€of€August€5,Ïwith€personnel€leaving€the€counting€room€to€use€the€bathroom€orÏstopping€briefly€to€eat.€€The€judges,€registrars,€and€voteÏcounters,€suffered€from€mental€fatigue,€body€fatigue,€eyeÏfatigue€and€loss€of€concentration€and€these€circumstances€castÏdoubt€upon€the€accuracy,€reliability,€and€credibility€of€theÏresults€in€the€contested€races€for€circuit€court€clerk€andÏsheriff.€€They€alleged€there€was€a€large€number€of€votes€markedÏon€the€tally€sheets€which€were€arbitrarily€added€to€orÏsubtracted€from€in€order€to€make€all€tally€sheets€reflect€theÏsame€number€of€votes.€€They€also€alleged€the€judges€arbitrarilyÏand€wrongfully€voided€ballots€where€an€"X"€was€marked€at€theÍname€of€a€candidate€if€his€name€was€also€written€on€the€lineÏdesignated€for€"write„in"€votes.€€They€alleged€there€was€a€powerÏoutage€during€the€night€at€which€time€there€were€ballots€on€aÏtable€to€be€counted€but€it€was€unknown€whether€or€not€theÏballots€were€ever€counted.€€Plaintiffs€also€alleged€there€wereÏdiscrepancies€in€the€official€records€as€to€the€number€of€votesÏcast€in€the€election€and€those€actually€cast€in€the€races€forÏsheriff€and€circuit€court€clerk.€They€alleged€an€official€recordÏreflects€7,180€votes€were€cast€in€the€election€but€the€number€ofÏvotes€cast€for€the€office€of€sheriff€and€circuit€court€clerkÏeach€exceeded€that€number.ÌÌà àà àAs€pertinent,€the€Plaintiffs€asked€the€court€to€orderÏa€recount€of€the€votes€cast€for€the€offices€of€circuit€courtÏclerk€and€sheriff€in€the€August€4€general€election€and€declareÏthe€one€receiving€the€most€votes€for€each€respective€office€toÏbe€elected€to€that€office.ÌÌà àà àDefendants€Cheek€and€Seal,€in€their€answer,€asÏpertinent,€denied€the€Plaintiffs€were€entitled€to€the€reliefÏthey€sought.€€They€also,€as€an€affirmative€defense,€said:Ï"Plaintiffs€have€failed€to€set€out€the€exact€number€of€votesÏthat€are€in€dispute€and€therefore€this€cause€of€action€mustÏfail."ÌÌà àà àDefendants€Loope,€Breeding,€Tuttle,€Collingsworth,€andÏManning,€for€answer,€generally€denied€the€Plaintiffs€wereÏentitled€to€the€relief€they€sought,€but€qualified€their€answerÏas€follows:€€"The€defendants€aver€they€are€not€opposed€to€aÏrecount€of€the€ballots€cast€in€the€August€4,€1994€generalÏelection€for€the€offices€of€Claiborne€County€Circuit€Court€ClerkÏand€Claiborne€County€Sheriff€with€expenses€paid€by€theÏplaintiffs.€€The€defendants€are€agreeable€with€the€recount€dueÏto€the€rumors,€innuendo,€allegations€of€fraud€andÏmisrepresentation€alleged€in€the€Complaint€and€in€the€communityÏto€clarify€the€results€and€tabulation."ÌÌà àà àUpon€the€trial€of€the€case,€the€Plaintiffs€calledÏthree€witnesses€who€testified€concerning€the€irregularities€inÏthe€tallying€of€the€votes€counted€and€the€rejection€of€certainÏtypes€of€ballots.€€Ms.€Misty€Cope€testified€she€was€one€of€theÏfour€registrars€who€tallied€the€votes€as€the€judges€called€outÏthe€names€of€the€candidates€who€received€votes€for€theÏrespective€offices€being€voted€on€in€the€August€4€generalÏelection.€€She€testified€they€started€counting€votes€about€twoÏo'clock€in€the€afternoon€on€August€4€and€didn't€finish€untilÏlate€in€the€afternoon€on€August€5.€€She€testified€the€room€inÏwhich€they€were€working€was€very€small,€hot,€smoke„filled,€andÍuncomfortable.€€The€conditions€caused€her€eyes€to€burn€and€gaveÏher€a€headache.€€She€wanted€to€leave€but€was€under€theÏimpression€it€would€invalidate€the€election€if€she€did.€ÏAttached€as€Appendix€"A"€are€excerpts€of€the€pertinent€parts€ofÏMs.€Cope's€testimony.€€Based€on€objections€by€Defendants'Ïcounsel,€Ms.€Cope€was€not€permitted€to€testify€as€to€herÏestimation€of€the€number€of€mistakes€made€(votes€added€to€orÏsubtracted€from)€in€the€tally€sheets.€€The€following€questionÏand€answer,€however,€illustrate€the€tone€of€her€testimony:Ì"Q.à àà àMs.€Cope,€do€you€have€any€idea€as€to€whether€or€notÏthe€tallies€are€correct?Ì"A.à àà àI€would€say€they€are€incorrect.€€If€they€were€to€beÏre„counted€I€would€say€it€would€be€a€different€total€to€ours€asÏit€stands."ÌÌà àà àMr.€Mayford€(Rocky)€Manning€testified€he€served€as€oneÏof€the€three€judges€in€the€election€on€August€4.€€He€testifiedÏthe€working€conditions€where€they€were€counting€the€ballots€onÏAugust€4€and€5€were€hot,€crowded,€smoky,€and€there€wasÏconsiderable€dissension€by€some€of€the€judges€relating€to€theÏcounting€of€the€ballots.€€They€were€engaged€in€processing€theÏballots€for€some€30„odd€hours,€from€about€9:30€a.m.€on€August€4Ïuntil€about€5:30€p.m.€on€August€5.€€He€testified€that€during€theÏcounting€process€one€of€the€judges€would€call€out€the€names€ofÍthe€candidates€being€voted€for€on€each€ballot€to€the€registrarsÏor€ladies€tallying€the€votes,€while€the€other€two€judgesÏobserved€the€ballots€being€counted.€€He€also€testified€that€onÏany€ballot€where€an€"X"€was€marked€in€the€box€opposite€theÏprinted€name€of€a€candidate€and€if€the€candidate's€name€was€alsoÏwritten€on€the€line€below€the€name,€the€ballot€was€"Rejected,Ïthrown€out,€not€counted."€€He€testified€he€thought€these€votesÏshould€be€counted.€€He€stated,€"Well,€if€they€[the€voters]Ïmarked€and€they€also€wrote€the€same€name€in,€that€was€clear€toÏme.€€That€was€an€attempt€to€vote€for€the€same€person."€€ThereÏwere€nine€voting€districts€and€it€was€Mr.€Manning's€estimateÏthat€Mr.€Lee€and€Mr.€Shoffner€each€had€approximately€20€ballotsÏrejected€in€each€of€the€districts.ÌÌà àà àThe€record€showed€there€was€a€power€failure€at€aboutÏ4:00€a.m.€on€August€5€in€the€room€where€the€ballots€were€beingÏcounted€and€at€that€time€there€were€numerous€ballots€on€theÏtable€to€be€counted.€€The€power€failure€lasted€approximately€45Ïminutes€and€Mr.€Manning€testified€that€after€it€was€over€heÏcould€not€verify€whether€or€not€the€ballots€were€counted.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Manning€was€›queriedœ€at€length€on€cross„Ïexamination€as€to€his€knowledge€of€who€should€have€received€theÏmost€votes.€€His€testimony€was€he€did€not€know€the€exact€numberÍof€votes€involved€and€he€could€not€state€with€certainty€whoÏshould€have€won€or€lost€in€the€election.ÌÌà àà àMr.€J.€Steve€Brogan€testified€he€was€one€of€the€threeÏjudges€who€worked€in€the€counting€of€the€ballots.€€His€testimonyÏwas€the€same€as€Mr.€Manning's€concerning€the€rejection€ofÏballots€where€the€ballot€was€marked€with€an€"X"€opposite€theÏcandidate's€name€and€if€the€candidate's€name€was€also€writtenÏin,€the€ballot€would€not€be€counted.€€He€testified€there€was€aÏdisagreement€among€the€judges€as€to€whether€or€not€such€ballotsÏshould€be€counted.€€He€said€Mr.€Rowee,€one€of€the€judges€"thatÏhad€worked€in€the€election€before€said€that,€in€the€past,€thatÏthat€[ballot]€constituted€two€votes"€and€that€was€why€theÏballots€were€rejected.€€He€testified€the€judges€"didn't€haveÏanything€to€do€with€the€tally€sheets"€and€he€had€no€knowledge€ofÏerrors€made€in€the€tally€sheets.ÌÌà àà àAt€the€conclusion€of€Plaintiffs'€proof,€counsel€forÏDefendants€moved€the€court€to€dismiss€the€Plaintiffs'€complaint.€ÏThe€basis€of€Defendants'€motion€was€the€holding€of€our€supremeÏcourt€in€ò òForbes€v.€Belló ó,€816€S.W.2d€716€(Tenn.1991).€€InÏreliance€on€ò òForbesó ó,€the€Defendants€argued:€"They€[Plaintiffs]Ïhave€got€to€be€able€to€show€the€exact€votes€and€that,Ïessentially,€those€number€[sic]€of€votes€added€to€their€resultÍwould€be€more€than€were€cast€for€my€clients.€€It€has€to€be€doneÏwith€òòmathematicalóó€òòcertaintyóó."€(Emphasis€ours.)ÌÌà àà àThe€chancellor€granted€the€motion€and€dismissed€theÏcomplaint.€€In€sustaining€the€motion,€the€court,€as€pertinent,Ïsaid:€"You're€[Plaintiffs]€not€entitled€to€a€re„count€becauseÏthe€election€is€closed.€....€The€evidence€is€just€not€here€to€goÏto€a€re„count€with€the€expectation€that€the€result€would€beÏdifferent.€€I€think€the€results€would€be€different€but€would€notÏchange€the€outcome."€€The€court€also€said:€"The€burden€in€thisÏcase€is€that€the€court€must€be€at€least€convinced€by€aÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€that,€if€re„counted,€the€outcomeÏwould€be€different.€€I,€frankly,€am€not€at€all€convinced€ofÏthat,€based€on€the€evidence€today."ÌÌà àà àThe€judgment€which€was€entered€states:€"Plaintiffs€hadÏfailed€to€establish€a€prima€facie€case€by€failing€to€show€withÏany€òòmathematicalóó€òòcertaintyóó€that€any€irregularity€in€the€electionÏheld€on€August€4,€1994,€would€have€affected€the€outcome€of€theÏelection."ÌÌà àà àThe€Plaintiffs€have€appealed,€saying€the€court€was€inÏerror.€€We€must€agree,€and€reverse€for€the€reasons€hereinafterÏstated.ÌÌà àà àWe€first€consider€the€insistence€of€the€Appellees€andÏthe€holding€of€the€chancellor€that€Plaintiffs€in€an€electionÏcontest,€seeking€a€recount€of€the€ballots€cast€in€order€toÏdetermine€which€candidate€received€the€most€votes€and€isÏentitled€to€be€declared€the€winner,€are€bound€by€the€same€rulesÏas€applied€by€the€court€in€ò òForbes€v.€Belló ó,€816€S.W.2d€716.€ÏThe€Appellees'€reliance€on€ò òForbesó ó€is€misplaced.€€In€the€ò òForbesó óÏcase,€the€court€said,€at€719:ÌÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÓÓà àUnder€Tennessee€law,€there€are€two€grounds€uponÏwhich€an€election€contest€may€be€predicated.€€òòSeeóóÏòògenerallyóó€ò òSouthall€v.€Billingsó ó,€213€Tenn.€280,€375ÏS.W.2d€844,€848€(1963).€€The€contestant€may€assertÏthat€the€election€is€valid€and€that€if€the€outcome€isÏproperly€determined€by€the€court,€it€will€be€apparentÏthat€the€contestant€rather€than€the€contesteeÏactually€won€the€election.€€The€proper€relief€in€thisÏevent€is€a€judgment€declaring€the€contestant€to€beÏthe€winner.€€Alternatively,€the€contestant€may€claimÏthat€the€election€was€null€and€void€for€some€validÏreason€or€reasons.€€The€proper€relief€in€that€case€isÏto€order€a€new€election.ÌÌÒ Ü ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓThe€case€at€bar€falls€into€the€first€category€of€the€two€classesÏof€cases.€€The€Plaintiffs€do€not€contest€the€validity€of€theÏelection.€€They€say€the€election€was€valid€"and€if€the€outcomeÏis€properly€determined€by€the€court€[by€a€recount]€it€will€beÏapparent€that€the€contestant[s]€rather€than€the€contestee[s]Ïactually€won€the€election."€€In€the€ò òForbesó ó€case,€the€contestantÏfell€into€the€second€category€in€that€she€was€claiming€"theÏelection€was€null€and€void€for€some€valid€reason€or€reasons"€andÍcontestant€alleged€she€should€be€declared€the€winner€of€theÏelection.€€The€ò òForbesó ó€court€said,€at€719:ÌÒ 4 ÒÒ  ÒÌÓÓà àIn€this€case,€Forbes€has€failed€to€make€theÏallegations€necessary€to€support€a€claim€that€sheÏshould€be€declared€the€winner.€€She€states€in€herÏcomplaint€only€that€"the€wholesale€disregard€of€theÏelection€laws€of€the€State€have€resulted€inÏirregularities€which€have€rendered€at€least€300Ïabsentee€ballots€in€Hickman€County€and€561€absenteeÏballots€in€Williamson€County€illegal€and€that€but€forÏsaid€irregularities€that€Forbes,€and€not€the€incumbentÏ("Bell"),€is€the€winner."ÌÌÌÌÒ ' ÒÒ X ÒÓÓà àà àThe€ò òForbesó ó€court€quoted€from€ò òShoaf€v.€Bringleó ó,€192ÏTenn.€695,€241€S.W.2d€832€(1951):ÌÒ 4 ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓ"In€making€these€allegations€it€[is]€necessary€that€theÏcontestant€specifically€point€out€each€and€every€vote€thatÏwas€fraudulently€or€illegally€cast€on€behalf€of€theÏcontestant€and€against€him€and€that€the€total€of€theseÏvotes€when€taken€from€the€contestee€and€added€to€him€wouldÏgive€him€a€majority."ÌÌò òShoafó ó,€241€S.W.2d€at€833.€€òòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€ò òBlackwood€v.ó óÏò òHollingsworthó ó,€195€Tenn.€427,€260€S.W.2d€164,€166€(1953),Ïin€which€this€court,€relying€on€ò òShoaf€v.€Bringleó ó,€notedÏthat€to€sustain€a€claim€of€this€sort,€"the€contestant€mustÏspecifically€point€out€the€alleged€illegal€votes€cast€forÏthe€contestee."ÌÌÒ Ü ÒÒ X ÒòòId.óó€719.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThe€case€of€ò òBlackwood€v.€Hollingsworthó ó,€195€Tenn.€427,Ï260€S.W.2d€164€(1953)€cited€by€the€ò òForbesó ó€court€was€an€electionÏcontest€similar€to€the€case€at€bar,€in€which€the€contestant€did€notÏchallenge€the€validity€of€the€election,€as€in€the€ò òForbesó ó€case€orÍò òShoaf€v.€Bringleó ó,€òòsupraóó,€241€S.W.2d€833.€€The€contestant€alleged€aÏnumber€of€ballots€cast€for€her€had€been€counted€for€the€contestee,€asÏa€result€of€which€the€contestee€received€a€plurality€of€the€votes.€ÏShe€alleged€if€the€votes€cast€for€her€had€been€counted€for€herÏinstead€of€the€contestee,€she€would€have€been€elected.€€She€asked€theÏcourt€to€determine€who€was€elected€to€the€office.€€The€contestee,ÏBlackwood,€filed€a€demurrer€in€the€county€court€on€the€grounds€theÏallegations€of€the€petition€were€not€specific.€€The€court€sustainedÏthe€demurrer€and€Miss€Hollingsworth,€the€contestant,€appealed€to€theÏcircuit€court.€€The€circuit€court€overruled€the€demurrer€and€onÏrecount€determined€Miss€Hollingsworth€received€the€plurality€of€theÏvotes€and€Blackwood€appealed.€€The€supreme€court,€upon€sustaining€theÏcircuit€court,€distinguished€ò òBlackwoodó ó€from€the€ò òShoafó ó€case,€saying:ÌÒ 4 ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓà àIn€considering€whether€the€allegations€of€the€petitionÏwere€sufficient€to€withstand€demurrer,€this€case€must€notÏbe€confused€with€one€in€which€it€is€sought€to€overcome€theÏofficial€returns€by€alleging€that€illegal€votes€areÏincluded€therein€in€a€number€sufficient€to€reverse€theÏresult€when€the€official€returns€are€purged€of€such€votes.€ÏIn€that€situation,€as€held€in€ò òShoaf€v.ó ó€ò òBringleó ó,€192€Tenn.Ï695,€241€S.W.2d€832,€the€contestant€must€specifically€pointÏout€the€allegedly€illegal€votes€cast€for€the€contestee.€ÏOtherwise,€there€would€be€no€basis€upon€which€to€determineÏfor€whom€those€illegal€votes€were€cast.€€In€the€instantÏcase€the€contest€is€based€upon€the€allegation€that€moreÏthan€several€hundred€legal€votes€cast€for€the€contestantÏwere€fraudulently€called€by€the€election€officials€andÏcredited€to€the€contestee.€€Once€a€ballot€is€placed€in€theÏbox€there€is€no€way€of€ascertaining€the€identity€of€theÏperson€who€cast€it.€€Therefore,€to€require€the€contestantÏto€allege€in€her€petition€the€identity€of€the€voter€whoseÏballot€was€fraudulently€called€for€the€contestee,€thoughÏcast€for€contestant,€would€be€to€require€of€the€contestantÏthat€which€is€impossible.€€But€if€the€proof€be€sufficientÏto€justify€the€Court€in€going€behind€the€official€returnsÍand€sufficient€to€conclude€that€an€unauthorized€approach€toÏthe€ballots€in€the€box€has€been€sufficiently€guardedÏagainst,€then€the€recount€of€these€ballots€establishes€theÏtruth€or€falsity€of€the€charge€made€as€to€miscallingÏballots.Ìà àUpon€the€hearing,€if€there€be€proof€that€ballots€castÏfor€the€contestant€in€a€particular€precinct€were€called€forÏcontestee,€or€proof€of€other€irregularities€indicating€theÏsame€result,€the€Court€would€be€justified€in€going€behindÏthe€returns€and€recounting€the€votes€in€that€precinct,Ïassuming€likewise€satisfactory€proof€that€there€had€been€noÏtampering€with€these€ballots€in€the€meantime.€€Such€are€theÏallegations€of€this€petition.€€The€demurrer€was,€therefore,Ïproperly€overruled.ÌÌÌÌÒ ' ÒÒ X ÒÓÓà àà àThe€next€insistence€of€the€Appellees€is€that€since€theÏpassage€of€the€Public€Acts€of€1972,€Chapter€740,€now€codified€atÏT.C.A.€ðð€2„17„101,€et€seq.,€which€repealed€T.C.A.€ðð€2„1901,€et€seq.,Ïour€courts€no€longer€have€jurisdiction€to€order€a€recount€in€anÏelection€contest€case€and€any€case€decided€by€our€courts€prior€toÏthe€1972€statute€relating€to€an€election€contest€is€no€longer€viableÏin€such€cases€"because€those€statutory€provisionsÌ[ðð€2„17„101,€et€seq.]€rewrote€the€common€law€and€changed€theÏremedies€available€in€an€election€contest."ÌÌà àà àWe€cannot€agree€with€Appellees'€contention.€€A€review€ofÏT.C.A.€ðð€2„27„101,€et€seq.,€and€2„1901€reveals€the€only€materialÏchanges€in€the€two€statutes€relate€to€jurisdiction€over€cases,Ïbroadening€the€jurisdiction€of€the€courts€and€clarifying€standing€toÏcontest€elections.€€T.C.A.€ðð€2„17„112(a)(4)€specifically€sets€outÏwhat€the€judgment€in€the€case€at€bar€should€be€if€the€AppellantsÍprevail€in€their€insistence.€€It€provides€as€follows:€€"(4)ÏDeclaring€a€person€duly€elected€if€it€appears€that€such€personÏreceived€or€would€have€received€the€highest€number€of€votes€had€theÏballots€intended€for€such€person€and€illegally€rejected€beenÏreceived."ÌÌà àà àAppellees€also€insist€the€court€is€prohibited€fromÏordering€a€recount€under€the€provisions€of€T.C.A.€ðð€2„8„101(b).€ÏAgain,€we€cannot€agree.€€T.C.A.€ðð€2„8„101(a)€provides€the€electionÏcommission€shall€meet€on€the€first€Monday€after€the€election€toÏcompare€the€returns€on€the€tally€sheets€and€certify€the€results.€ÏParagraph€(b)€of€the€same€section€states:€"The€commission€may€notÏrecount€any€paper€ballots,€including€absentee€ballots."€€ParagraphÏ(c)€provides€a€penalty€for€any€commission€which€fails€to€timelyÏcertify€the€election€by€the€deadline.€€The€Appellees,€in€theirÏbrief,€fail€to€show€how€the€statute€which€states€the€electionÏcommission€shall€"compare€the€returns€on€the€tally€sheets"€but€shallÏ"not€recount€the€paper€ballots"€in€certifying€the€election,€has€anyÏbearing€on€the€jurisdiction€of€the€trial€court€to€order€a€recount.€ÏWe€fail€to€see€any€merit€in€this€contention.€€The€holding€of€ourÏsupreme€court€in€the€case€of€ò òHatcher€v.€Belló ó,€521€S.W.2d€799Ï(Tenn.1974),€which€involved€an€election€contest€addressing€theÏjurisdiction€of€the€court,€speaking€through€Justice€Cooper,€said,€atÏ801:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓThe€thrust€of€appellant's€argument€is€that€a€suit,€to€beÏan€election€contest,€must€in€some€manner€assail€"theÏvalidity€or€integrity€of€the€election€process,€and€thatÏthe€plaintiff€make€some€claim€to€the€office."Ìà àThere€is€no€question€but€that€a€suit€which€attemptsÏto€go€behind€the€election€returns,€to€recount€the€votes€orÏotherwise€€assail€the€manner€and€form€of€the€election€isÏan€election€contest.€€òòSeeóó€ò òState€v.€Dunnó ó,€496€S.W.2d€480Ï(Tenn.1973);€ò òState€v.€Sensingó ó,€188€Tenn.€684,€222€S.W.2dÏ13€(1949).€€But€an€election€contest€is€not€limited€to€anÏattack€on€the€integrity€of€the€election€process,€nor€is€itÏlimited€to€an€attack€by€a€candidate€who€makes€claim€to€theÏoffice.ÌÌà àThe€court€further€said,€at€803:ÌÌThe€election€contest€statute€gives€to€the€unsuccessfulÏcandidate€the€right€to€contest€the€validity€of€theÏelection€by€suit€filed€within€ten€days€of€the€election,Ïwithout€limitation€to€any€specific€ground€or€grounds€ofÏcontest.ÌÌÌÌÒ Ü ÒÒ X ÒÓÓà àà àThe€Appellants,€in€their€brief,€state:€"These€defendantsÏdid€have€a€real€concern€in€regards€to€the€manner€in€which€the€ballotÏboxes€were€protected."€€This€was€not€an€issue€on€the€trial€of€theÏcase€and€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€bearing€on€this€issue.€€IfÏappropriate,€it€may€become€an€issue€on€remand€but€cannot€beÏconsidered€on€this€appeal.ÌÌà àà àThe€Appellees€also€argue€in€their€complaint€that€theÏPlaintiffs€asked€for€and€received€a€restraining€order€enjoining€theÏelection€commissioners€from€certifying€the€election.€€They€furtherÏargue€the€complaint€was€therefore€premature€and€should€be€dismissed.€ÏThey€also€say€the€complaint€is€barred€by€the€statute€of€limitations.€ÍWe€find€this€argument€without€foundation.€€T.C.A.€ðð€2„17„105Ïprovides:€"The€complaint€contesting€an€election€underÌðð€2„17„101€shall€be€filed€within€ten€(10)€days€after€the€elction."€ÏThe€election€was€held€on€August€4,€1994.€€The€complaint€was€filed€onÏAugust€9,€well€within€the€statutory€period.€€Also,€the€question€ofÏthe€statute€of€limitations€is€raised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal,Ïwhich€cannot€be€done.€€ò òHobson€v.€First€State€Bankó ó,€801€S.W.2dÏ807,€813€(Tenn.App.1990).ÌÌà àà àThis€brings€us€to€the€statement€of€the€court€in€hisÏmemorandum€opinion€sustaining€the€motion€to€dismiss€that€he€was€notÏconvinced€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€"that€if€re„counted,€theÏoutcome€would€be€different."€€In€considering€this€holding€by€theÏcourt€we€deem€it€appropriate€to€also€consider€the€further€holding€ofÏthe€court€in€his€memorandum€opinion€in€overruling€the€Plaintiffs'Ïmotion€for€a€new€trial€and€motion€for€reconsideration.€€à àà àIn€hisÏsecond€memorandum€opinion,€the€court€repeated€his€statement€in€theÏfirst€memorandum:€"You're€[Plaintiffs]€not€entitled€to€a€recountÏbecause€the€election€is€closed."€€The€court€further€said:€Ï"Obviously,€the€election€probably€would€change€a€vote€or€two€or€tenÏor€òòtwo€or€three€hundredóó€maybe.€....€I€have€to€be€convinced€by€aÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€that€the€outcome€would€be€different,Ïand€the€evidence€in€this€case€did€not€meet€that€standard."€€(EmphasisÏours.)ÌÌà àà àWe€find€the€chancellor€was€in€error€in€holding€theÏPlaintiffs€were€"not€entitled€to€a€recount€because€the€election€isÏclosed."€€The€court€did€not€give€the€basis€for€his€holding,€nor€haveÏwe€found€anything€in€the€record€to€support€such€a€holding.€€TheÏelection€was€held€on€August€4€and€the€voting€poles€closed€that€day.€ÏThe€Plaintiffs€filed€their€complaint€asking€for€a€recount€on€AugustÏ9.€€T.C.A.€ðð€2„17„105€provides€the€complaint€contesting€an€electionÏshall€be€filed€within€ten€(10)€days€after€the€election.€€TheÏcomplaint€was€therefore€timely€filed.ÌÌà àà àAlso,€we€cannot€agree€with€the€holding€of€the€chancellorÏthat€the€Plaintiffs€failed€to€prove€their€case€by€a€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence.€€The€Plaintiffs€offered€uncontradicted€proof€that€whenÏthe€votes€were€being€counted€the€registrars,€while€tallying€theÏvotes,€arbitrarily,€on€an€indeterminate€number€of€times,€marked€theÏtally€sheets€to€show€votes€cast€that€in€reality€were€not€cast.€€TheyÏalso,€on€an€indeterminate€number€of€times,€arbitrarily€failed€to€markÏthe€tally€sheets€for€votes€that,€in€fact,€were€cast.€€The€PlaintiffsÏalso€offered€uncontested€evidence€the€judges€of€the€election€rejectedÏan€undetermined€number€of€ballots€for€both€the€contestants€and€theÏcontestees€where€the€voters€properly€marked€the€ballots€with€an€"X"Ïbut€had€also€written€the€candidate's€name€in€the€line€below€the€nameÏprinted€on€the€ballot.€€Generally,€in€election€contest€cases:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓà àIf€the€contestant's€proof€tends€to€impeach€theÏreturns,€the€contestee€must€introduce€evidence€inÏrebuttal.€€Furthermore,€where€it€is€shown€that€at€anÏelection€district€there€were€irregularities€committed€thatÏrender€the€result€doubtful,€it€is€incumbent€on€the€one€whoÏclaims€the€benefit€of€the€vote€of€that€district€to€purgeÏthe€illegal,€from€the€legal,€votes.€€If€ballots€have€beenÏrejected€and€the€contestant€or€elector€is€interested€inÏhaving€them€excluded,€the€burden€of€proof€is€on€him€toÏestablish€that€they€were€properly€rejected....ÌÌÒ Ü ÒÒ X Ò26€Am.Jur.2d,€Elections,€ðð€342€pp.€161,€162.€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThe€proof€of€the€contestants€certainly€tended€to€impeachÏthe€returns€and€the€irregularities€committed€rendered€the€resultsÏdoubtful.€€The€contestants€had€therefore€carried€their€burden€ofÏproof€and€the€burden€had€shifted€to€the€contestees,€but€instead€ofÏrebutting€the€proof,€contestees€moved€for€dismissal.ÌÌà àà àThe€decree€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€and€the€case€isÏremanded€for€a€trial€on€its€merits.€€The€cost€of€this€appeal,Ïtogether€with€the€accrued€cost€in€the€trial€court,€is€taxed€to€theÏAppellees.ÌÓÓÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€____________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Clifford€E.€Sanders,€Spec.J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:€ÌÌÌ_____________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.€ÌÌÌ_____________________ÌDon€T.€McMurray,€J.ÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€ÌÌ€à àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÑ€+ÑÇÒ „ ÒÒ X ÒÑ  ÑÑ À Ñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€APPENDIX€"A"ÌÌÌ"Q.à àà àNow,€as€a€registrar,€if€you€would,€describe€to€His€Honor€what€aÏregistrar€does€versus€what€a€judge€does,€or€was€supposed€to€do,€there.ÌÌ"A.à àà àMy€job€was€to€actually€tally€the€votes.€€The€judge€told€us€whoÏthe€vote€had€been€cast€for€and€we€marked€down€who€it€was,€tallied."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àThey€would€call€it€to€the€registrars?€€And€then€you€would€markÏthem€on€the€tally€sheets?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àYes,€that's€right.ÌÌ"Qà à€€.à àà àHow€many€judges€were€there?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àFour,€I€believe.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àHow€many€registrars?ÌÌ"A.à àà àFour.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àNow,€did€you€ever€run€into€any€problem€or€was€there€ever€anyÏoccasion€where€when€you€were€tallying€it€wouldn't€match€up€with€the€otherÏperson€doing€the€tallying?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àYes.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àAnd€what€would€happen€in€those€instances?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àWell,€in€the€beginning,€I€think€we€made€a€couple€of€mistakes€inÏthe€beginning.€€We€went€back€and€completely€re„counted€each€ballot,€to€seeÏwhere€the€mistake€had€been€made.€€And€then€after€the€first€several€hundredÏballots,€we€just€attempted€to,€you€know,€figure€out€what€had€happened."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àYou€said€during€the€first€part€you€would€re„count?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àYeah.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àThe€judges€would€go€re„count?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àYeah.€€We€went€through€each€of€the€ballots.€€I€mean,€each€ballotÏtwice.€€We€started€over€twice.€€And€then€after€that,€it€was€probably€aÏhundred€and€fifty€ballots€or€so€that,€you€know,€after€the€next€mistakeÏafter€that,€we....ÌÌ"Q.à àà àYou€stopped€going€back?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àRight.€€We€didn't€go€back€anymore.€ÌÌ"Q.à àà àAnd€how€many€votes,€or€how€many€ballots€would€the€judges€callÏoff€before€you€would€sit€and€verify€your€tallies?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àAt€each€„„€after€five€votes€were€cast€we€would€each€said€[sic]Ï'tally'."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àYou€talked€a€few€minutes€ago€about€when€the€tallies€would€notÏmatch€up€between€you€or€some€other€registrar,€could€you€provide€us€aÏlittle€more€detail€on€how€you€would€reconcile€that?ÌÌ"A.à àà àWe€would€just€discuss€between€the€persons€who€was€[sic]€tallyingÏwho€had€thought€they€had€made€the€mistake,€and€we€either€added€a€vote€orÏsubtracted€a€vote.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àWere€there€occasions€that€you€or€some€other€registrar€wouldÏsimply€say€'I€made€a€mistake'€just€in€order€to€keep€the€count€moving?ÌÌ"A.à àà àYes.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àDid€you€do€that?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àYes."€ÌÌ"Q.à àà àMiss€Cope,€do€you€have€any€idea€as€to€whether€or€not€the€talliesÏare€correct?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€would€say€they're€incorrect.€€If€they€were€to€be€re„counted€IÏwould€say€it€would€be€a€different€total€to€ours,€as€it€stands."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àCan€you€state€with€certainty,€Miss€Cope,€based€on€yourÏexperience€over€there,€that€Mr.€Seal€and€Mr.€Cheek€were€winners€of€theirÏrespective€elections?ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€couldn't€state€with€any€certainty,€no.€ÌÌ"Q.à àà àCould€you€say€with€any€certainty€whether€or€[sic]€Mr.€Lee€andÏMr.€Shoffner€„„ÌÌ"A.à àà àNo.ÌÌ"Q.à àà à„„€were€the€winners€of€their€respective€elections?ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€couldn't€say€that€either."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àAll€right.€€...[i]f€a€mistake€was€made,€you€would€just€agree€andÏgo€on.€€Why€did€you€not,€at€that€time,€make€an€objection€to€the€procedureÏgoing€on?ÌÌ"A.à àà àWell,€we'd€been€in€there€for€thirty€hours€and€I€think€we€wereÏall€ready€to€leave.€€We€could€have€re„counted€each€and€every€ballot€againÍeach€time€we€made€a€mistake€but,€I€mean,€we€could've€been€there€two€moreÏweeks€if€we'd€done€that.ÌÌ"Q.à àà àCould€you€take€any€one€of€these€tally€sheets,€or€the€tally€sheetÏitself,€and€show€me,€with€any€certainty,€with€certainty,€the€tallies€thereÏthat€were€incorrect?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àNo.€€Not€by€looking€at€the€tallies,€no."ÌÌ"Q.à àà à....ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€can't€say€with€any€certainty€how€many€mistakes€were€made,€butÏthere€were€several€mistakes,€is€all€I€can€say.€ÌÌ"Q.à àà àAnd€you€cannot€tell€me€where€those€mistakes€were€made€in€theÏrace€of€Mr.€Cheek,€Mr.€Lee€over€here,€or€Mr.€Shoffner,€and€Mr.€Seal'sÏrace?ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€can't€say€exactly€where€the€mistakes€were€made€but€they€wereÏmade€in€each€of€those€races."ÌÌ"Q.à àà àBut€you€cannot€say€that€a€sufficient€number€of€those€mistakesÏwould€have€changed€the€outcome€of€this€election,€can€you?€ÌÌ"A.à àà àI€don't€know€how€many€mistakes€there€were."ÌÌÌÌ