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<p>The <b>Court of Disputed Returns</b> is a <a href="/wiki/Court" title="Court">court</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tribunal" title="Tribunal">tribunal</a>, or some other body that determines disputes about <a href="/wiki/Elections" class="mw-redirect" title="Elections">elections</a> in some <a href="/wiki/Common_law" title="Common law">common law</a> countries. The court may be known by another name such as the Court of Disputed Elections. In countries that derive their legal tradition from the <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a>, the legal tradition is that <a href="/wiki/Parliament" title="Parliament">Parliament</a> is the supreme law-making body in the country. The same tradition mandates that as Parliament is sovereign, it alone has authority and jurisdiction to determine who and how a person can be elected to Parliament. Implicit in that authority is the jurisdiction to determine whether a person has been validly elected, which is commonly known as a "disputed return" and gives the court its name. The court is an attempt to eliminate the partisan nature of parliament and give the determination of electoral disputes to an independent and dispassionate neutral body. As parliament has the sole authority to determine these matters, parliament must create a special law to bring that body into existence to determine those disputes. </p><p>A court of disputed returns may be constituted in a number of ways. The first is by the creation of a special court to perform that function. That has occurred in the <a href="/wiki/Northern_Territory" title="Northern Territory">Northern Territory</a>, Australia, which has a special and separate court determines those disputes. </p><p>Another way is for an existing court to be given the role of the court of disputed returns. Commonly, the phrase "the x court shall be the court of disputed returns". In this case, a separate court is not created, but the existing court is made into and given the jurisdiction of the court of disputed returns. The <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_Australia" title="High Court of Australia">High Court of Australia</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_New_South_Wales" title="Supreme Court of New South Wales">Supreme Court of New South Wales</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Victoria" title="Supreme Court of Victoria">Supreme Court of Victoria</a> are each invested as courts of disputed returns in this manner. </p><p>A court may also be simply be the venue for the determination of disputed returns. In <a href="/wiki/New_South_Wales" title="New South Wales">New South Wales</a>, the Land and Environment Court determines electoral disputes but is not a court of disputed returns. </p><p>In some jurisdictions, the parliament of that country retains the right to determine disputed returns concurrently with the court of disputed returns. Then, both the parliament and the court may both decide the issue. </p><p>Generally courts of disputed return have no rights of appeal, but that depends on the law that constitutes the court. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Prior to 1405, there was no codified process for resolving electoral disputes. Those disputes were resolved through what is described by authors Graeme Orr and George Williams as "custom, force and administrative action".<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams55_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams55-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This meant that there were no real rules in place to determine how these disputes were resolved. The manner of resolving a dispute in one county might be totally different from another county, or may result in a different outcome even if the same procedure was followed. </p><p>The first laws to regulate elections in <a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a> were passed in the reign of <a href="/wiki/Henry_IV_of_England" title="Henry IV of England">Henry IV</a>. This was through the law numbered "7 Henry IV ch 15" and called "The manner of the Election of Knights of the Shire for a Parliament", made in 1405. The law came about due to the confusion caused when letters were purportedly issued disqualifying lawyers from voting or being elected.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1429, a law was passed allowing the common law courts to become involved in the determination of these disputes.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the 16th century, it was commonly regarded that the <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Chancery" title="Court of Chancery">Court of Chancery</a> could determine electoral disputes, particularly as that court issued the various writs to the sheriff and compiled their returns on the election <sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the reign of <a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England" class="mw-redirect" title="Elizabeth I of England">Elizabeth I</a>, the election for Norfolk was disputed in 1586. The Court of Chancery investigated and decided to issue writs for a new election. However, the House of Commons set up its own committee which upheld the election.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1604, during the reign of <a href="/wiki/James_I_of_England" class="mw-redirect" title="James I of England">James I</a>, a dispute arose as to the election of Sir Francis Goodwin for the seat of Buckinghamshire. The Court of Chancery investigated and determined that a new election should occur. However, the House of Commons established its own committee and found that Goodwin was validly elected. A compromise was made between the King and the House by holding a fresh election. </p><p>From the early 17th century, the resolution of disputed returns became accepted as being the prerogative of Parliament. The Court of Chancery then became the means of administering the election process, but Parliament became the arbiter of disputes.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams58_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams58-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>By the 18th century, the process of Parliament determining disputes became tainted. The holding of a seat in Parliament became very valuable. Voting in Parliament had consolidated into <a href="/wiki/Party-line_vote" title="Party-line vote">voting along party lines</a>. Issues were determined according to the numbers rather than the merits. <a href="/wiki/Parliamentary_Elections_Act_1770" title="Parliamentary Elections Act 1770">Grenville’s Act of 1770</a><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> established a <a href="/wiki/Jury" title="Jury">jury</a> system to reform the process but that process did not satisfactorily resolve the problem. </p><p>In 1868 Parliament handed its power to determine disputes to the common law courts. Orr and Williams describe this as a "hot potato" that the courts reluctantly took on.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams60_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams60-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The power was given to two judges of the <a href="/wiki/Court_of_King%27s_Bench_(England)" title="Court of King's Bench (England)">Queen's Bench</a>. It was described as being "what, according to British ideas, are normally the rights and privileges of the Assembly itself, always jealously maintained and guarded in complete independence of the Crown."<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Australia">Australia</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Disputed_Returns_(Australia)" title="Court of Disputed Returns (Australia)">Court of Disputed Returns (Australia)</a></div> <p>In most states, the Court of Disputed Returns is the supreme court of that state. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Federal">Federal</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Federal"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_Australia" title="High Court of Australia">High Court of Australia</a> is the Court of Disputed Returns for national elections in Australia. See section 354 of the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Electoral_Act_1918" title="Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918">Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918</a> (Cth).<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Australian_Capital_Territory">Australian Capital Territory</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Australian Capital Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Australian_Capital_Territory" title="Australian Capital Territory">Australian Capital Territory</a>, the Supreme Court is known as the Court of Disputed Elections for the purposes of the Electoral Act 1992 (ACT).<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="New_South_Wales">New South Wales</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: New South Wales"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Disputed_Returns_(New_South_Wales)" title="Court of Disputed Returns (New South Wales)">Court of Disputed Returns (New South Wales)</a></div> <p>In New South Wales, Supreme Court shall be the Court of Disputed Returns under the <i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Parliamentary_Electorates_and_Elections_Act_1912&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 (page does not exist)">Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912</a></i> for state elections.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For elections of officers to <a href="/wiki/Aboriginal_Land_Council" class="mw-redirect" title="Aboriginal Land Council">Aboriginal Land Councils</a> under the <i><a href="/wiki/Aboriginal_land_rights_legislation_in_Australia#1983_.28NSW.29_Aboriginal_Land_Rights_Act" title="Aboriginal land rights legislation in Australia"><i>Aboriginal Land Rights Act</i> 1983 (NSW)</a>, or a <a href="/w/index.php?title=Rural_Lands_Board&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rural Lands Board (page does not exist)">Rural Lands Board</a> under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Rural_Lands_Protection_Act_1998&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 (page does not exist)">Rural Lands Protection Act 1998</a></i>, the <a href="/wiki/Land_and_Environment_Court_of_New_South_Wales" title="Land and Environment Court of New South Wales">Land and Environment Court</a> acts to consider disputed returns.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Northern_Territory">Northern Territory</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Northern Territory"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Northern Territory has established the Court of Disputed Returns under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Electoral_Act_2004_(NT)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Electoral Act 2004 (NT) (page does not exist)">Electoral Act 2004 (NT)</a> as a separate court to determine these disputes.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Queensland">Queensland</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Queensland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Disputed_Returns_(Queensland)" title="Court of Disputed Returns (Queensland)">Court of Disputed Returns (Queensland)</a></div> <p>A dispute about an election may be made by petition to the Supreme Court sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Electoral_Act_1992_(Qld)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Electoral Act 1992 (Qld) (page does not exist)">Electoral Act 1992 (Qld)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="South_Australia">South Australia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: South Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/South_Australia" title="South Australia">South Australia</a>, the Supreme Court is the Court of Disputed Returns under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Electoral_Act_1985_(SA)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Electoral Act 1985 (SA) (page does not exist)">Electoral Act 1985 (SA)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>For local government elections, there is a Court of Disputed Returns constituted under which a District Court judge may be appointed.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Victoria">Victoria</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Victoria"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Supreme Court of Victoria is the Court of Disputed Returns under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Electoral_Act_2002_(Vic)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Electoral Act 2002 (Vic) (page does not exist)">Electoral Act 2002 (Vic)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Western_Australia">Western Australia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Western Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For state elections Section 157 of the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Electoral_Act_(WA)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Electoral Act (WA) (page does not exist)">Electoral Act (WA)</a> provides that the validity of any election or return may be disputed by petition addressed to the Court of Disputed Returns. The court is constituted by a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia sitting in open Court.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>For local government elections, the Magistrates Court is the Court of Disputed Returns under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Local_Government_Act_1995_(WA)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Local Government Act 1995 (WA) (page does not exist)">Local Government Act 1995 (WA)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Fiji">Fiji</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Fiji"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_Fiji" title="High Court of Fiji">High Court of Fiji</a> is the Court of Disputed Returns for the Island of Fiji under section 73 of the <a href="/wiki/1997_Constitution_of_Fiji" title="1997 Constitution of Fiji">Constitution (Amendment) Act 1997</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Hong_Kong">Hong Kong</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Hong Kong"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Hong Kong, electoral legislations establish that the <a href="/wiki/Court_of_First_Instance_(Hong_Kong)" title="Court of First Instance (Hong Kong)">Court of First Instance</a> of the territory's High Court (previously the High Court of Justice of the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_(Hong_Kong)" class="mw-redirect" title="Supreme Court (Hong Kong)">Supreme Court</a>) would hear election petitions. The sole exception would be selection of the territory's Chief Executive after 1997: Such petitions would directly be heard by the <a href="/wiki/Court_of_Final_Appeal_(Hong_Kong)" class="mw-redirect" title="Court of Final Appeal (Hong Kong)">Court of Final Appeal</a> as provided for in the <i>Chief Executive Election Ordinance 2001</i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="New_Zealand">New Zealand</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: New Zealand"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The power to determine electoral disputes was transferred to the courts in 1880 by the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Election_Petitions_Act_1880&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Election Petitions Act 1880 (page does not exist)">Election Petitions Act 1880</a>. Before this, disputes were determined by the Parliament. The change arose through two different election results on identical petitions.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGeiringer144_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEGeiringer144-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Papua_New_Guinea">Papua New Guinea</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Papua New Guinea"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Questions on electoral disputes are referred to the <a href="/w/index.php?title=National_Court_of_Papua_New_Guinea&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="National Court of Papua New Guinea (page does not exist)">National Court of Papua New Guinea</a> under the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Organic_Law_on_National_and_Local-level_Government_Elections_2003_(PNG)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections 2003 (PNG) (page does not exist)">Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections 2003 (PNG)</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Election_law_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Category:Election law in the United Kingdom">Category:Election law in the United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Election_law" title="Election law">Election law</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams55-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams55_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFOrr_&_Williams">Orr & Williams</a>, 55.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams56_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFOrr_&_Williams">Orr & Williams</a>, 56.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams57_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFOrr_&_Williams">Orr & Williams</a>, 57.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams58-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams58_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFOrr_&_Williams">Orr & Williams</a>, 58.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">10 Geo 3 ch 16</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams60-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOrr_&_Williams60_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFOrr_&_Williams">Orr & Williams</a>, 60.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Strickland v Grima (Malta)</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKPC/1930/1930_7.html">[1930] UKPC 7</a>, (1930) AC 285</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918</i> (Cth) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cea1918233/s354.html">s 354</a> The Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act 1992</i> (ACT) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/ea1992103/s252.html">s 252</a> Court of Disputed Elections.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912</i> (NSW) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/peaea1912382/s156.html">s 156</a> The Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983</i> (NSW) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/alra1983201/s124.html">s 124</a> Councillors pending determination of disputed return.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act</i> (NT) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ea103/s234.html">s 234</a> Constitution.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act 1992</i> (Qld) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/ea1992103/s137.html">s 137</a> Supreme Court to be Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act 1985</i> (SA) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/ea1985103/s103.html">s 103</a> The Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Local Government (Elections) Act 1999</i> (SA) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/lga1999275/s67.html">s 67</a> Constitution of the Court.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act 2002</i> (Vic) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/ea2002103/s124.html">s 124</a> The Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Electoral Act 1907</i> (WA) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ea1907103/s157.html">s 157</a> Validity of election or return, how to dispute.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Local Government Act 1995</i> (WA) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/lga1995182/s4.81.html">s 4.81</a> Complaints to go to Court of Disputed Returns.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEGeiringer144-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEGeiringer144_19-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFGeiringer">Geiringer</a>, 144.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.paclii.org/pg/legis/consol_act/olonalge519/">"Organic Law on National and Local-level Government Elections"</a>. Paclii.org. 21 September 2006<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 June</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Organic+Law+on+National+and+Local-level+Government+Elections&rft.pub=Paclii.org&rft.date=2006-09-21&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paclii.org%2Fpg%2Flegis%2Fconsol_act%2Folonalge519%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourt+of+Disputed+Returns" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Sources">Sources</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Court_of_Disputed_Returns&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Sources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOrr_&_Williams" class="citation web cs1">Orr, G & <a href="/wiki/George_Williams_(lawyer)" title="George Williams (lawyer)">Williams, G</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/SydLawRw/2001/3.html">"Electoral Challenges: Judicial Review of Parliamentary Elections in Australia"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Electoral+Challenges%3A+Judicial+Review+of+Parliamentary+Elections+in+Australia&rft.au=Orr%2C+G&rft.au=Williams%2C+G&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austlii.edu.au%2Fau%2Fjournals%2FSydLawRw%2F2001%2F3.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourt+of+Disputed+Returns" class="Z3988"></span> (2001) 23 <a href="/wiki/Sydney_Law_Review" title="Sydney Law Review">Sydney Law Review</a> 53.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWalker" class="citation web cs1">Walker, K. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/1997/26.html">"Disputed Returns and Parliamentary Qualifications: Is the High Court's Jurisdiction Constitutional"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Disputed+Returns+and+Parliamentary+Qualifications%3A+Is+the+High+Court%27s+Jurisdiction+Constitutional&rft.au=Walker%2C+K&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austlii.edu.au%2Fau%2Fjournals%2FUNSWLawJl%2F1997%2F26.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourt+of+Disputed+Returns" class="Z3988"></span> (1997) 20 University of NSW Law Journal 257</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGeiringer" class="citation web cs1">Geiringer, C. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.victoria.ac.nz/law/centres/nzcpl/publications/nz-journal-of-public-and-international-law/previous-issues/volume-31,-june-2005/geiringer.pdf">"Judging the Politicians: A Case for Judicial Determination of Disputes over the Membership of the House of Representatives"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Judging+the+Politicians%3A+A+Case+for+Judicial+Determination+of+Disputes+over+the+Membership+of+the+House+of+Representatives&rft.au=Geiringer%2C+C&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.victoria.ac.nz%2Flaw%2Fcentres%2Fnzcpl%2Fpublications%2Fnz-journal-of-public-and-international-law%2Fprevious-issues%2Fvolume-31%2C-june-2005%2Fgeiringer.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourt+of+Disputed+Returns" class="Z3988"></span> (2005) 3 New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law 139</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMcGrath,_Amy1997" class="citation web cs1">McGrath, Amy (1997). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091013060954/http://www.samuelgriffith.org.au/papers/html/volume8/v8chap7.htm">"Chapter Seven "One Vote, One Value : Electoral Fraud in Australia"</a>. <i>Proceedings of the Eighth Conference of The Samuel Griffith Society</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.samuelgriffith.org.au/papers/html/volume8/v8chap7.htm">the original</a> on 13 October 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 February</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Proceedings+of+the+Eighth+Conference+of+The+Samuel+Griffith+Society&rft.atitle=Chapter+Seven+%22One+Vote%2C+One+Value+%3A+Electoral+Fraud+in+Australia&rft.date=1997&rft.au=McGrath%2C+Amy&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samuelgriffith.org.au%2Fpapers%2Fhtml%2Fvolume8%2Fv8chap7.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACourt+of+Disputed+Returns" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1130092004">.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-bordered{padding:0 2em;background-color:#fdfdfd;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;clear:both;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;justify-content:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-unbordered{padding:0 1.7em;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{margin:0 1em 0 0.5em;flex:0 0 auto;min-height:24px}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;flex:0 1 auto;padding:0.15em 0;column-gap:1em;align-items:baseline;margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-item{display:inline-block;margin:0.15em 0.2em;min-height:24px;line-height:24px}@media screen and (max-width:768px){.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;flex-flow:column wrap;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{text-align:center;flex:0;padding-left:0.5em;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;align-items:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;align-items:center;flex:0;column-gap:1em;border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1;margin:0 auto;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{border-top:none;margin:0;list-style:none}}.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.sister-bar{margin-top:-1px}</style><div class="portal-bar noprint metadata noviewer portal-bar-bordered" role="navigation" aria-label="Portals"><span class="portal-bar-header"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals" title="Wikipedia:Contents/Portals">Portal</a>:</span><ul class="portal-bar-content"><li class="portal-bar-item"><span class="nowrap"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Balance,_by_David.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/21px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png" decoding="async" width="21" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/32px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Balance%2C_by_David.svg/41px-Balance%2C_by_David.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="606" data-file-height="558" /></a></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Law" title="Portal:Law">Law</a></li></ul></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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