The chair of the state executive committee shall, upon the filing of a contest with him or her, as provided in this article, call the committee to meet and the committee shall meet not more than five calendar days from the time of filing such contest for the purpose of hearing and determining the same, or, without calling the committee to meet, the chair may appoint a subcommittee as herein provided for and the subcommittee shall meet not more than five calendar days after a contest is filed for the purpose of hearing and determining the same.
Ala. Code § 17-13-85 (1975)