Citizens for a Referendum Vote v. City of Worcester

At a special election held in Worcester on September 20, 1977, the voters approved an order of the city council appropriating $7.9 million for a new civic center. The vote, which included authority for a bond issue, carried by a plurality of forty-six votes out of 40,936 votes cast. A recount held September 30, 1977, increased the margin to 119 votes. A judge of the Superior Court ruled that the election was valid, the plaintiffs appealed, and we *219allowed joint applications of all parties for direct appellate review and for expedited review. The case was argued on April 3, 1978, and on April…