KRS 120.195: Contest of election by slate of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant

Governor or by candidate for General Assembly.

(1) Any slate of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor may contest any

regular election or special election to the General Assembly by filing a written

application and notice of the contest with the clerk of the Senate and with the clerk

of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly. The application and

notice of contest shall be signed by the parties contesting the election, and:

(a) If contesting a regular election, the application and notice of contest shall:

1. Be filed not later than thirty (30) days after the final action of the State

Board of Elections; or

2. Be filed not later than thirty (30) days fo llowing entry of the findings of

the Franklin Circuit Court as provided in KRS 120.185(2) if a recount

was conducted; and

(b) If contesting a special election, the application and notice of contest shall be

filed not later than seven (7) days after the fin al action of the State Board of

Elections.

(2) Any candidate for the General Assembly may contest any regular election or special

election to the General Assembly by filing a written application and notice of the

contest with the clerk of the house to whic h the candidate seeks election. The

application and notice of contest shall be signed by the party contesting the election,

and:

(a) If contesting a regular election, the application and notice of contest shall:

1. Be filed not later than fifteen (15) days after the final action of the State

Board of Elections; or

2. Be filed not later than fifteen (15) days following entry of the findings

entered by the Circuit Court as provided in KRS 120.185(3) if a recount

was conducted; and

(b) If contesting a special election, the application and notice of contest shall be

filed not later than three (3) days following the final action of the State Board

of Elections.

(3) The application and notice required under subsections (1) and (2) of this section

shall state the g rounds of the contest, and no grounds other than those stated in the

application and notice shall be heard as coming from that party following the filing

of the application and notice. The candidate filing the application and notice may

include a request for a recount which may be ordered by the board selected to try the

contest under KRS 120.205 or 120.215.

(4) No election contest shall be heard unless the contestee to the proceeding has been

served with a copy of the application and notice of contest. The contestee may make

defense without giving counternotice.

(5) No certificate of election shall be issued by the State Board of Elections while any

election contest is pending, and any certificate issued before, during, or after final

resolution by the board of any election contest filed under this section shall be nu ll

and void.

(6) Immediately after the filing of the application and notice of contest, either party may

proceed to take proof by depositions, under the same rules and regulations that

govern the taking of depositions in actions in equity, except that no c ommission

shall be required for taking a deposition out of the state. The depositions shall be

sealed by the officer taking them, and directed to the clerk of the Senate or clerk of

the House, as the case may require. The depositions properly taken shall b e read as

evidence before the board or house of the General Assembly having jurisdiction of

the case, and the board or house may call for and hear other proof as either shall

determine. The taking of depositions to be used before the board or house of the

General Assembly shall close ten (10) days before the next meeting of the General

Assembly, or, if the General Assembly is in session when the application and notice

is filed, when the board or house orders the taking of proof by deposition to close.

(7) The costs of the proceeding shall be adjudged against the unsuccessful party, and a

certificate of costs shall be given by the clerk of the Senate or the clerk of the House

to the parties to the contest or their attorneys, as the case requires, and shall be paid

to the prevailing party within thirty (30) days of adjudication. If the costs are not

timely paid, the prevailing party may seek entry of a judgment in a Circuit Court of

competent jurisdiction.