Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5 above, all petitions of candidates accepted as valid and sufficient by the election authorities shall be available for public inspection until 4:00 p.m. on the fortieth (40th) day before such primary election and at or before that time written protests against any one or more of such petitions may be filed by any qualified elector eligible to vote for the candidate to whose petition he/she objects. Such protest shall be filed with such election authorities and it shall state the grounds for such protest, and no grounds not so stated shall be considered in the hearing upon the protest. Upon the filing of such protest and the election authorities with whom it is filed shall promptly fix a time for the hearing of the same, and shall give adequate notice by mail of the time and place of such hearing to the person who filed the protest and also to the candidate whose nomination is protested. At the time so fixed the election authorities shall hear the protest and determine the validity or invalidity of the petition. Such determination shall be final.
(Approved by voters May 6, 1969.)