Kernrechtsfrage
Whether official court costs may be charged in a voting-rights complaint when the complainant primarily pursues his own interests.
Extrahierter Entscheid
Yes. Although voting-rights complaints are generally free of costs, costs may be imposed when the complainant is protecting his own property-related interests rather than acting as a voter.
Extrahierte Begründung
Under § 198(1)(c) VRG, costs are ordinarily borne by the unsuccessful party. § 200(1) VRG allows reduction or waiver only where the parties have no economic interest or where special reasons justify it, such as a public interest in clarifying the issue. Here, the complainant opposed the rezoning of his own land; he was not acting mainly as a voter, but to preserve his personal interests. That justifies charging him with the costs.