Bradley

The hotly contested 2001 Compton municipal election resulted in two election contests challenging the results of the runoff election in the mayoral and city council races. The trial court granted both election contests, removing the winners from office and replacing them with their opponents. Finding the runoff ballot had listed the candidates’ names in both races in the wrong alphabetical order, the trial court concluded that switching the name order would have changed the outcome of both races due to the advantage the top ballot placement affords over lower ballot placements. The trial court also granted the contest against the city council winner on the ground that she had committed offenses against the electorate.

With regard to the mayoral election, we reverse the judgment and reinstate the winning candidate as mayor. In the city council race, we affirm the portion of the judgment annulling the winning candidate’s election for having committed offenses against the elective franchise. We reverse the portion of the judgment for the challenger based on name-order error.

Background

The court held a consolidated trial of election contests brought by respondent Omar…