Section 17-16-71 Evidence Confined to Allegations; Exceptions.

No evidence shall be taken on the part of the contestant unless to sustain some one of the specific allegations of the original or amended statement of grounds of contest. Nor shall any evidence be taken on the part of the contestee except in rebuttal of the specific allegations of the original or amended statement of the grounds of contest. But upon five days’ notice the contestee shall have the right to take evidence of any malconduct, fraud, or corruption on the part of any inspector, clerk, returning officer, canvassing board, or other person; of illegal votes cast for some person other than the contestee; of the rejection of legal votes cast for the contestee; of offers to bribe, bribery, intimidation, or other malconduct which prevented a fair, free, and full exercise of the elective franchise in any election precinct in the State of Alabama, the election in which is not put in issue by the original or amended statement of the grounds of contest; and when the contestee shall take evidence as herein provided, the contestant shall be permitted to take evidence in rebuttal.