10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/22-15.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-15.1)

Sec. 22-15.1. (a) Within 60 days following the canvass of the general election within each election jurisdiction, the election authority shall prepare, in typewritten or legible computer-generated form, a report of the abstracts of votes by precinct for all offices and questions of public policy in connection with which votes were cast within the election jurisdiction at the general election. The report shall include the total number of ballots cast within each precinct or ward and the total number of registered voters within each precinct or ward. The election authority shall provide a copy of the report to the chair of the county central committee of each established political party in the county within which the election jurisdiction is contained, and shall make a reasonable number of copies of the report available for distribution to the public.

(b) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1985, each election authority shall prepare, in typewritten or legible computer-generated form, a report of the type required by subsection (a) concerning the general election of 1984. The election authority shall provide a copy of the report to the chairperson of the county central committee of each established political party in the county in which the election jurisdiction is contained, and shall make a reasonable number of copies of the report available for distribution to the public.

(c) An election authority may charge a fee to reimburse the actual cost of duplicating each copy of a report provided pursuant to subsection (a) or (b).

(Source: P.A. 100-1027, eff. 1-1-19.)

(10 ILCS 5/22-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-16)

Sec. 22-16. If the result of a canvass disclosed that a person elected to office is a person whose nomination for said office was vacated and not filled pursuant to Section 7-61 or 10-11, such person shall be declared elected and the office thereupon shall become vacant. Such vacancy in office shall be filled under the applicable provision of Article 25.

(Source: P.A. 84-861.)

(10 ILCS 5/22-17) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-17)

Sec. 22-17. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the canvass of votes cast at the consolidated election shall be conducted by the election authority within 21 days after the close of such elections.

(b) The board of election commissioners as provided in Section 22-8 shall canvass the votes cast at the consolidated election for offices of any political subdivision entirely within the jurisdiction of a municipal board of election commissioners.

(c) The canvass of votes cast upon any public questions submitted to the voters of any political subdivision, or any precinct or combination of precincts within a political subdivision, at any regular election or at any emergency referendum election, including votes cast by voters outside of the political subdivision where the question is for annexation thereto, shall be canvassed by the same election authority as for the canvass of votes of the officers of such political subdivision. However, referenda conducted throughout a county and referenda of sanitary districts whose officers are elected at general elections shall be canvassed by the county clerk. The votes cast on a public question for the formation of a political subdivision shall be canvassed by the relevant election authority and filed with the circuit court that ordered the question submitted.

(c-5) No person who is shown by the election authority's proclamation to have been elected at the consolidated election or general election as a write-in candidate shall take office unless that person has first filed with the certifying office or board a statement of candidacy pursuant to Section 7-10 or Section 10-5, a statement pursuant to Section 7-10.1, and a receipt for filing a statement of economic interests in relation to the unit of government to which he or she has been elected. For officers elected at the consolidated election, the certifying officer shall notify the election authority of the receipt of those documents, and the county clerk shall issue the certification of election under the provisions of Section 22-18.

(d) The canvass of votes for offices of political subdivisions cast at special elections to fill vacancies held on the day of any regular election shall be conducted by the election authority which is responsible for canvassing the votes at the regularly scheduled election for such office.

(e) Abstracts of votes prepared pursuant to canvasses under this Section shall report returns by precinct or ward.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-647, eff. 1-1-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/22-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 22-18)

Sec. 22-18. The canvass of votes and the proclamation of results by the election authority provided in Section 22-17 shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures and requirements otherwise provided in this Article. A signed copy or original duplicate of its completed abstract of votes must be transmitted to each election authority having jurisdiction over any of the territory of the respective political subdivision and transmitted, by facsimile, e-mail, or any other electronic means, to the State Board of Elections in the same manner as provided in Section 22-5.

The county clerk shall make out a certificate of election to each person declared elected to an office by the election authorities and transmit such certificate to the person so entitled, upon his application. For political subdivisions whose territory extends into more than one county, the certificates of election shall be issued by the county clerk of the county which contains the principal office of the political subdivision.

Whenever an election authority canvasses the votes cast upon a public question submitted to referendum pursuant to a court order, the election authority shall immediately transmit a signed copy or an original duplicate of its completed abstract of the votes to the court which ordered the referendum.

(Source: P.A. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 23 heading) ARTICLE 23. CONTESTING ELECTIONS

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.1a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.1a)

Sec. 23-1.1a. Election contest - Statewide - Jurisdiction. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over contests of the results of any election, including a primary, for an elected officer provided for in Article V of the Constitution, and shall retain jurisdiction throughout the course of such election contests.

(Source: P.A. 89-5, eff. 1-1-96.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.2a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.2a)

Sec. 23-1.2a. Election contest - Statewide offices - Who may contest - Time and place for filing - Fee. The results of an election, including a primary, for an elected executive officer provided for in Article V of the Constitution may be challenged (1) by any candidate whose name was on the ballot for that office, (2) by any person who filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office, or (3) by any person who voted in that election, provided that such person's challenge is supported by a verified petition signed by persons who voted in the election in a number no less than the largest number of signatures required to nominate a person to be a candidate of any political party which nominated a candidate for the office being contested.

Any person, including a candidate, qualified pursuant to this Section and desiring to contest the results of an election for such an office shall, within 15 days of the date of the official proclamation of results of such election, file a Petition of State Election Contest with the clerk of the Supreme Court together with a filing fee in the amount of $10,000.

(Source: P.A. 89-5, eff. 1-1-96.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.3a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.3a)

Sec. 23-1.3a. Election contest - Statewide - Petition - Contents. A Petition of State Election Contest shall be signed and verified by each person contesting the results of the election and shall contain:

(a) The name of each candidate who received at least 1% of the votes cast for the office contested and the residence address of each such candidate as shown in the Statement of Candidacy of each candidate or, in the case of a write-in candidate, such candidate's residence address as determined by a diligent search;

(b) The results of the contested election as certified in the official proclamation;

(c) A statement that the Petitioner cast a ballot in the election contested, was a candidate whose name was on the ballot for the office which is the subject of the election contest, or filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for the office which is the subject of the election contest;

(d) A statement that each petitioner believes (i) mistake or fraud has been committed in the casting, counting or return or canvass of the votes for the office involved or (ii) there was some other irregularity in the conduct of the contested election, or both;

(e) A statement declaring with particularity the specific precincts in which the mistake, fraud or irregularity relied upon by the Petitioner is believed to have occurred;

(f) The names and addresses of each election authority in whose jurisdiction the election was held, clearly indicating which election authorities had jurisdiction over the precincts in which each alleged mistake, fraud or irregularity occurred;

(g) A statement declaring that, as a consequence of the mistake, fraud or irregularity alleged, the result of the election, as officially proclaimed, was incorrect; and

(h) A statement declaring the Petitioner's belief as to which candidate did receive the highest number of votes.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.4a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.4a)

Sec. 23-1.4a. Election contest - Statewide - Notice to parties. Upon receipt of a properly executed Petition of State Election Contest and the filing fee, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall within 48 hours (a) mail, by certified first class mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the Petition to each candidate and each election authority listed in the Petition at their addresses shown therein and to the State Board of Elections, and (b) notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court that a Petition of State Election Contest has been filed.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.5a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.5a)

Sec. 23-1.5a. Election contest - Statewide - Appearances and responsive pleadings - Time. Within 20 days of the filing of a Petition of State Election Contest, each candidate in the election contested may become a party to the contest proceeding by entering his or her written appearance or otherwise filing written pleadings in response to the Petition of State Election Contest with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The responsive pleadings may include a motion to dismiss, challenging the sufficiency of the Petition of State Election contest or any part thereof. Any candidate who does not so enter his or her appearance shall not be entitled to further notice of the contest proceeding nor be permitted to take part in the proceeding on his or her own behalf. Failure to file an appearance, however, shall not affect a candidate's right to office if he or she is determined to have received the highest number of votes.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.6a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.6a)

Sec. 23-1.6a. Election contest - Statewide - Examination of records - Procedure. If a petitioner in any election contest desires to examine records and equipment under the control of an election authority, he or she shall file with the Clerk of the Supreme Court a Request for Record Examination within 30 days of the date of the filing of the Petition and shall serve copies thereof on all parties to the contest and upon all election authorities having jurisdiction over the precincts in which votes were cast in the contested election. Within 5 days of receipt of such a Request, or between the 31st and 36th day after a petition is filed if no such Request is received, any other party to the election contest may file with the Clerk of the Supreme Court a request for Record Examination indicating the records and equipment not previously requested by the petitioner which such party desires to examine, serving a copy thereof upon all parties to the contest and upon all election authorities having jurisdiction over the precincts in which votes were cast in the contested election. Any party who fails to timely file a Request for Record Examination shall thereafter be barred from filing such a Request. A Request for Record Examination shall clearly set forth by precincts the records and equipment which the person filing the Request desires to examine and shall not be altered or amended after filing. Each Request for Record Examination shall be accompanied by a bond, with adequate surety, in an amount equal to $50 per precinct listed, or $75,000, whichever is less, to secure the payment by the party submitting the Request, of any assessment of the costs of the examination ordered by the Supreme Court.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.7a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.7a)

Sec. 23-1.7a. Election contest - Statewide - Initial procedures and rules. Subsequent to the time that all candidates in the election contest have appeared or are required to appear, and all Requests for Records Examination are required to be filed, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall call the Supreme Court into session to consider the Petition of State Election Contest and any responsive pleadings, together with any Requests for Record Examination, receiving such briefs and argument as the Court shall deem appropriate. Thereafter, the Supreme Court shall:

(a) Determine the sufficiency of the Petition, and shall dismiss the Petition or any part of it if found insufficient;

(b) Issue rulings on any issues as to which there are no material facts in dispute;

(c) Identify those election jurisdictions, if any, for which a recount or hearing is appropriate; and

(d) In its discretion, establish rules of procedure for the determination of disputed facts.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.8a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.8a)

Sec. 23-1.8a. Election contest - Statewide - Procedures for recount and initial hearing. In all cases for which the Supreme Court finds it appropriate that there be conducted a recount or partial recount of ballots cast in any election jurisdiction, or a hearing regarding the conduct of the election within any election jurisdiction, the Supreme Court shall, in consultation with the Chief Judge of the Judicial Circuit in which each such election jurisdiction is located, assign a Circuit Judge of that Judicial circuit to preside over the recount or hearing. If more than one election jurisdiction within a single Judicial circuit is subject to recount or hearing, the Supreme Court may assign a different Circuit Judge to preside over the recount or hearing for each such election jurisdiction.

Each Circuit Judge appointed pursuant to this Section shall supervise the examination of the records or equipment of the election authority whose jurisdiction is subject to the recount or hearing, and shall take evidence in the same manner and upon like notice as in other civil cases. At the conclusion of the recount or hearing, the Circuit Judge shall make a recommendation as to the assessment of the costs of any examination of records and equipment of the election authority against the party requesting the examination; provided that such recommendation shall not call for the assessment of more than $50 per precinct. If one party requests the right to examine some but not all records and equipment in one precinct and another party requests the right to examine other records or equipment in the same precinct, the Circuit Judge shall recommend an appropriate apportionment of the costs between the parties. During any recount or hearing presided over by a Circuit Judge, pursuant to this Section the Supreme Court shall retain jurisdiction over the contest, and may issue procedural orders or interim rulings regarding the recount or hearing, either upon motion of a party or upon its own motion.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.8b) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.8b)

Sec. 23-1.8b. Election contest - Statewide - State Board of Elections. In the event the circuit judge, in any such case, is of the opinion that such action will expedite hearing and determination of the contest, the circuit judge may appoint the State Board of Elections and refer the case to it to recount the ballots, to take testimony and other evidence, to examine records and equipment, to make a record of all objections to be heard by the circuit court that may be made to the election returns or to any of them or to any ballots cast or counted and to take all necessary steps and do all necessary things to determine the true and correct result of the election and to make a report thereof to the court. The State Board of Elections shall have authority to count the ballots or cause the same to be counted under its supervision and direction, to conduct such hearing or hearings as may be necessary and proper, to apply to the circuit court in the manner provided by law for the issuance of subpoenas or for any other appropriate order or orders to compel the attendance of witnesses, and to take such steps and perform such duties and acts in connection with the conduct of any such hearing or hearings as may be necessary. The State Board of Elections may, with the approval of the court, employ such assistants as may be necessary and proper to provide for counting the ballots, examining any records and equipment and taking all necessary steps and doing all necessary things to determine the true and correct result of the election under the direction and supervision of the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall receive such compensation for its services and such allowances for the services of its assistants and for reimbursement of expenses incurred by it as shall be approved by the circuit court, and such compensation and allowances when approved by the circuit court may be taxed as costs in such cause.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.9a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.9a)

Sec. 23-1.9a. Election contest - Statewide - Recommended findings of Circuit Judge. Each recount or hearing presided over by a Circuit Judge pursuant to Section 23-1.8a and 23-1.8b shall be concluded, as to a general election, on or before the 150th day after the election, and, as to a primary election, on or before the 87th day after the election, by the Circuit Judge's issuance of written Recommended Findings of Fact on all disputed issues, including a proposed statement of the correct tally of votes for the contested election in each election jurisdiction in question. The Recommended Findings of Fact shall be forwarded immediately to the Supreme Court.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.10a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.10a)

Sec. 23-1.10a. Election contest - Statewide - Final Decision by Supreme Court. Within 15 days of the issuance of Recommended Findings of Fact by a Circuit Judge, any party may serve and file with the Clerk of the Supreme Court written objections to the Recommended Findings. Subsequent to the time that all challenges to Recommended Findings of Fact by a Circuit Judge are required to be filed, the Supreme Court shall determine the contest, either annulling the contested election or declaring the correct results thereof. The Supreme Court may make a de novo determination of those portions of the Recommended Findings to which objection is made. The Supreme Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, any of the findings recommended by a Circuit Judge, and may hear witnesses and examine physical evidence to the extent it deems necessary for such determination.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.11a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.11a)

Sec. 23-1.11a. Election contest - Statewide - Assessment of Costs. The Supreme Court shall also make a determination of costs to be assessed, taking into consideration any recommended assessment of a Circuit Judge. The Court may decline to assess costs against a prevailing party, and may not assess costs in excess of $75,000 against any one party.

All assessments shall be paid as the Supreme Court determines, but in such manner as to directly reimburse any election authority whose records or equipment were examined for the costs of such examination or the State Board of Elections, as the case may be. In the event a county or city controls the funds of an election authority, such county or city shall allocate the funds received in payment of such expenses as directed by the election authority.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.12a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.12a)

Sec. 23-1.12a. Election contest - Statewide - Timing and finality of determination by Supreme Court. The determination of the contest shall be made as soon as practicable. The determination of the Supreme Court shall be final, subject only to such petitions for reconsideration as the Supreme Court may by rule allow.

(Source: P.A. 86-873.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-1.13a) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-1.13a)

Sec. 23-1.13a. If any of the powers or duties to be exercised or performed by the Supreme Court under Sections 23-1.1a through 23-1.12a may not constitutionally be exercised or performed by the Supreme Court by reason of jurisdictional limitations, then Sections 23-1.1a through 23-1.12a shall nonetheless continue to govern contests of elections for elected officers provided for in Article V of the Constitution, and in such event the Supreme Court shall, pursuant to its general administrative and supervisory powers, assign to a circuit court those adjudicatory powers and duties with respect to such a contest as may not be exercised or performed by the Supreme Court, subject to appropriate judicial review.

(Source: P.A. 89-5, eff. 1-1-96.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-2)

Sec. 23-2. The senate and house of representatives shall severally hear and determine contests of the election of their respective members.

(Source: Laws 1943, vol. 2, p. 1.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-3)

Sec. 23-3. The circuit court shall hear and determine contests of the election of judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the appellate court, clerk of the Supreme Court, and judges of the circuit court, but no judge of the circuit court shall sit upon the hearing of any case in which he is a party.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3493.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-4)

Sec. 23-4. The circuit courts in the respective counties may hear and determine contests of the election of mayors of cities, presidents of county boards, presidents of villages, in reference to the removal of county seats and in reference to any other subject which may be submitted to the vote of the people of the county.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3493.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-5)

Sec. 23-5. The circuit court shall hear and determine contests of election of all other county, township and precinct officers, and all other officers for the contesting of whose election no provision is made.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3493.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-6.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-6.1)

Sec. 23-6.1. Whenever an election contest for a municipal trustee or alderperson is brought involving ballots from the same precincts which are subject to the jurisdiction of the circuit court by virtue of the pendency of an election contest for another office, the municipal council or board of trustees having jurisdiction of the municipal election contest shall have priority of access and possession of the ballots and other election materials for the purpose of conducting a recount or other related proceedings for a period of 30 days following the commencement of the municipal election contest. The election authority shall notify the court and the municipal council or board of the pendency of all other contests relating to the same precincts.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-12) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-12)

Sec. 23-12. The election of any member declared duly elected to a seat in the senate or house of representatives of the General Assembly, may be contested by any qualified voter of the district to be represented by such senator or representative, but when members of the House of Representatives are elected from the State at large, the election of any such member may be contested by any qualified elector in the State.

(Source: Laws 1964, 1st S.S., p. 711.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-13)

Sec. 23-13. The contestant shall, within 30 days after the proclamation of the result of the canvass of the State electoral board as provided in Section 22-7, serve a notice of his intention to contest such election, expressing the points on which the same will be contested; and shall deliver a copy of such notice to each proper clerk or board of election commissioners, as the case may be, who is a custodian of any ballots involved in the contest and to the State Board of Elections. If the contest is of the election of senator from a legislative district, such notice shall be served on the person declared to be elected to the Senate from that district. If the contest is of the election of a representative or representatives from a legislative district, such notice shall be served on each person declared to be elected to the House of Representatives from that district. In case any person whose election is contested is absent, or cannot be found, service may be had by leaving a copy of such notice at his usual place of residence. Nothing herein shall be construed to abridge the authority of either house of the General Assembly to judge the elections, returns and qualifications of its members in any manner determined by that house.

(Source: P.A. 80-801.)