Canvass and result of election; contests.

The county commissioners shall, not later than 5 days after the aforesaid election is held, publicly canvass the same, and the place receiving a majority of all the votes cast shall be the county seat for the next 10 years. The result declared upon such canvass may be contested by five or more taxpayers, qualified electors who voted in such election for a candidate place other than the place declared elected, by proceeding in chancery for an injunction against the removal by the county commissioners of the county records and county offices to the place declared elected, or by mandamus to compel the removal of the county offices and records to the place alleged in such proceedings to have been elected; and the court in which any such proceeding shall be properly instituted, may inquire into the legality of such election, the qualification of electors voting therein, and render judgment or decree in favor of the place duly elected by the qualified electors, and may make such interlocutory orders or decrees, and issue such process as shall be necessary to the protection of its jurisdiction, or may be incidental to the principal relief sought; provided, that such action shall be brought within 3 years from the time of such election.