§1402. Proper parties

            A. The following persons are the proper parties against whom actions objecting to candidacy shall be instituted:

            (1) The person whose candidacy is objected to.

            (2) The clerk of court, in his official capacity, if the candidate qualified with the clerk of court.

            (3) The secretary of state, in his official capacity, if the candidate qualified with the secretary of state.

            B.(1) The following persons are the proper parties against whom election contests shall be instituted:

            (a) The secretary of state, in his official capacity, when contesting an election on any proposed amendment to the constitution.

            (b) The governing authority which called the election, when contesting an election on a proposition.

            (c) The person or persons whose eligibility to be a candidate in a general election or whose election to office is contested.

            (2) Any candidate in an election which is contested shall be a proper party to and shall have standing to intervene in the action contesting the election.

            C. The secretary of state, in his official capacity, shall be made a party defendant to any action contesting an election for public office, an election submitting a proposition to the voters, or an election for the recall of a public officer. The secretary of state, in his official capacity, shall be made defendant to any action objecting to the calling of a special election. The secretary of state, in his official capacity, shall be made a party defendant to any action contesting the certification of a recall petition. The secretary of state shall have standing to intervene in an action objecting to candidacy in which the secretary of state was not the qualifying official.

            D. Costs of court shall not be assessed against the secretary of state when named as a defendant in any action contesting an election, objecting to candidacy, objecting to the calling of a special election, or contesting the certification of a recall petition.

            Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 254, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 451, §1, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 431, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 560, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2008, No. 136, §1, eff. June 6, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 570, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2010, No. 621, §1; Acts 2012, No. 138, §1, eff. May 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 383, §1, eff. June 18, 2013; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.