Grace v. Boggs, 220 La. 22, 55 So.2d 768; Caswell, Chairman of the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, v. Hoft, 239 La. 503, 119 So.2d 94. In support of his contention that this court has appellate jurisdiction appellant cites and relies on State ex rel. Brewer v. Democratic Second Public Service District Executive Committee, 243 La. 151, 142 So.2d 378. The issue here before us is whether the instant case is one involving an "election contest" within the meaning of Article 7, Section 10(4), of the Constitution. That issue was not raised in the Brewer case and was not discussed in this court's opinion. Hence we do not consider that it is authority for the proposition that we have appellate jurisdiction in the instant case.
La.R.S. 18:468 A. The election statutes "must be applied as written, especially so with relation to the time fixed in primary laws during which a candidate must do a particular act." State ex rel. Brewer v. Democratic Second Public Service Dist. Executive Committee, 243 La. 151, 156, 142 So.2d 378, 379 (1962) (discussing former La.R.S. 18:309). To allow a greater time than expressly set forth in the statute is equivalent to legislating by the court.
on June 18, 1976. In the case of State ex rel. Brewer v. Democratic Second Public Service District Executive Committee, 243 La. 151, 142 So.2d 378 (1962) our Supreme Court clearly stated the status of our statutory election laws: "Statutes dealing with elections are sui generis; they must be applied as written, especially so with relation to the time fixed in primary laws during which a candidate must do a particular act. It has been repeatedly stated in the decisions dealing with statutory provisions fixing the time within which a candidate for office must file notice of his candidacy that neither the courts nor the committees with whom the notice is to be filed may extend the time prescribed by the statute."
The law governing primary elections clearly requires compliance with its provisions before candidates can be certified and placed on the ballot. See State v. Democratic Second Pub, Serv. Dist. Exec. Com., 243 La. 151, 142 So.2d 378 (1962). LSA-R. S. 18:396 provides that any elector can object to a candidate by filing a written petition in a court of competent jurisdiction but this statute does not apply until a candidate has qualified according to law.