10 ILCS 5/ Election Code.

(10 ILCS 5/23-18) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-18)

Sec. 23-18. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to abridge the right of either branch of the General Assembly to grant commissions to take depositions, or to send for and examine any witnesses it may desire to hear on such trial.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-19)

Sec. 23-19. The election of any person declared elected to any office other than Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Senator or Representative, may be contested by any elector of the state, judicial division, district, county, town or precinct in and for which the person is declared elected.

(Source: P.A. 78-592.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-20) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-20)

Sec. 23-20. The person desiring to contest such election shall, within thirty (30) days after the person whose election is contested is declared elected, file with the clerk of the proper court a petition, in writing, setting forth the points on which he will contest the election, which petition shall be verified by affidavit in the same manner as complaints in other civil cases may be verified. Copies of such petition shall be delivered by mail to each proper clerk or board of election commissioners who is a custodian of any ballots involved in the contest. The petition shall allege that the petitioner voted at the election, and that he believes that a mistake or fraud has been committed in specified precincts in the counting or return of the votes for the office or proposition involved or that there was some other specified irregularity in the conduct of the election in such precincts, and the prayer of the petition shall specify the precincts in which the recount is desired.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 2388.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-21) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-21)

Sec. 23-21. Upon the filing of such statement, summons shall issue against the person whose office is contested, and he may be served with process, or notified to appear, in the same manner as is provided in other civil cases.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-22) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-22)

Sec. 23-22. Evidence may be taken in the same manner and upon like notice as in other civil cases.

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

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

Sec. 23-23. The case shall be tried in like manner as other civil cases, and may be heard and determined by the court at any time not less than 10 days after service of process, or at any time after the defendant is required by notification to appear, and shall have preference in the order of hearing to all other cases. The court may make and enforce all necessary orders for the preservation and production of the ballots, poll books, tally papers, returns, registers and other papers or evidence that may bear upon the contest.

Whenever a petition for a recount has been filed as provided in this Article, any opposing candidate or any elector, under like provisions and in like manner may file a petition within 10 days after the completion of the canvass of the precincts specified in the petition for a further recount of the votes cast in any or all of the balance of the precincts in the county, municipality or other political subdivision, as the case may be.

In event the court, in any such case, is of the opinion that such action will expedite hearing and determination of the contest, the court may refer the case to the election authority to recount the ballots, to take testimony and other evidence, to examine the election returns, to make a record of all objections to be heard by the 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 report thereof to the court. The election authority 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 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 election authority may, with the approval of the court, employ such assistants as may be necessary and proper to provide for counting the ballots, examining the election returns and for 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 election authority. Upon the motion or application of the election authority or of any party to the case, the court shall require the party contesting the election to deposit moneys with the court as security for costs as reasonably needed to compensate the election authority for the costs incurred in relation to the election contest. The money deposited for security shall be taxed and allowed as costs to compensate the election authority for the services of its assistants and for reimbursement of expenses incurred by the election authority in relation to the election contest. The election authority shall not be required to undertake any work in furtherance of the election contest until the necessary funds are deposited with the court. Any money deposited as security for costs by a petitioner contesting an election must be returned to the petitioner if the judgment of the court is to annul the election or to declare as elected someone other than the person whose election is contested.

Any money deposited as security for costs by a petitioner contesting an election must be returned to such petitioner if the judgment of the court is to annul the election or to declare as elected someone other than the person whose election is contested.

Any money deposited as security for costs by a petitioner in opposition to a petition contesting an election must be returned to such petitioner if the judgment of the court is to confirm the election or to declare as elected the person whose election is contested.

(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-23.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-23.1)

Sec. 23-23.1. No election contest shall abate on account of the death of any contestee in such contest.

Upon the suggestion of the death of any contestee by the contestant at any time before final judgment, within five days thereafter any elector of the State or political subdivision thereof for which the contestee was declared to be nominated or elected, may appear and intervene in such proceeding, or in case no elector appears within such five days, the court shall appoint such an elector to appear and intervene in such proceeding, and defend the same and thereupon the court shall proceed to final judgment.

(Source: P.A. 79-540.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-23.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-23.2)

Sec. 23-23.2. A court hearing an election contest pursuant to this Article or any other provision of the law shall grant a petition for a recount properly filed where, based on the facts alleged in such petition, there appears a reasonable likelihood the recount will change the results of the election.

(Source: P.A. 84-586.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-24) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-24)

Sec. 23-24. In the case of all constitutional amendments or other questions of public policy submitted to the voters of this State, and of all questions of public policy submitted to the voters of any political subdivision or district, any 5 electors of the State, or of the political subdivision or district, respectively, may contest the results of any such election by filing a written statement in the circuit court within 30 days after the result of the election shall have been determined, in like form as in other cases of contested elections in the circuit court. Such political subdivision shall be made defendant and process shall be served as in suits against such political subdivision; and like proceedings shall be had as in other cases of contested elections before such court. Where the contest relates to a constitutional amendment or other question of public policy submitted to the voters of the State, the statement of contest shall not specify any defendant, but notice of the contest be filed with the Attorney General who may appear and take such steps as he shall deem proper with respect to such contest; the contest may be heard and determined at any time not less than 10 days after notice to the Attorney General as herein provided, and like proceedings as nearly as may be shall be had as in other cases of contested elections before such court.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-25) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-25)

Sec. 23-25. In case of any contest under section 23-24 of this Act, the court shall allow any one or more electors of the State or political subdivision to appear and intervene in such proceedings for the purpose of participating in the prosecution or defense of the same. In case the judgment of the court shall be contrary to the contentions advanced by such interveners, the court may in its discretion tax against such interveners the cost of such proceedings or such portion thereof as to the court shall seem proper.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-26) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-26)

Sec. 23-26. The judgment of the court in cases of contested election, shall confirm or annul the election according to the right of the matter; or, in case the contest is in relation to the election of some person to an office, shall declare as elected the person who shall appear to be duly elected.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-27) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-27)

Sec. 23-27. If it appears that two or more persons have, or would have had if the legal ballots cast or intended to be cast for them had been counted, the highest and an equal number of votes for the same office, the persons receiving such votes shall decide by lot, in such manner as the court shall direct, which of them shall be declared duly elected; and the judgment shall be entered accordingly.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-28) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-28)

Sec. 23-28. A certified copy of the judgment of the court shall have the same effect as to the result of the election as if it had been so declared by the canvassers.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-29) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-29)

Sec. 23-29. When the person whose election is contested is found to have received the highest number of legal votes, but the election is declared null by reason of legal disqualification on his part, or for other causes, the person receiving the next highest number of votes shall not be declared elected, but the election shall be declared void.

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

(10 ILCS 5/23-30) (from Ch. 46, par. 23-30)

Sec. 23-30. In all cases of contested elections in the circuit courts, appeals may be taken in the same manner, and upon like conditions as is provided by law for taking appeals in other civil cases.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3493.)

(10 ILCS 5/23-50)

Sec. 23-50. Definition of a vote. For the purpose of any recount of votes under this Code, a vote is defined as provided in Sections 7-100, 17-100, 18-100, 24A-22, 24B-9.1, or 24C-10, depending upon the type of voting equipment or system used to cast the vote.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 24 heading) ARTICLE 24. VOTING MACHINES

(10 ILCS 5/24-1) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-1)

Sec. 24-1. The election authority in all jurisdictions when voting machines are used shall, except as otherwise provided in this Code, provide a voting machine or voting machines for any or all of the election precincts or election districts, as the case may be, for which the election authority is by law charged with the duty of conducting an election or elections. A voting machine or machines sufficient in number to provide a machine for each 400 voters or fraction thereof shall be supplied for use at all elections. However, no such voting machine shall be used, purchased, or adopted, and no person or entity may have a written contract, including a contract contingent upon certification of the voting machines, to sell, lease, or loan voting machines to an election authority, until the board of voting machine commissioners hereinafter provided for, or a majority thereof, shall have made and filed a report certifying that they have examined such machine; that it affords each elector an opportunity to vote in absolute secrecy; that it enables each elector to vote a ticket selected in part from the nominees of one party, and in part from the nominees of any or all other parties, and in part from independent nominees printed in the columns of candidates for public office, and in part of persons not in nomination by any party or upon any independent ticket; that it enables each elector to vote a written or printed ballot of his own selection, for any person for any office for whom he may desire to vote; that it enables each elector to vote for all candidates for whom he is entitled to vote, and prevents him from voting for any candidate for any office more than once, unless he is lawfully entitled to cast more than one vote for one candidate, and in that event permits him to cast only as many votes for that candidate as he is by law entitled, and no more; that it prevents the elector from voting for more than one person for the same office, unless he is lawfully entitled to vote for more than one person therefor, and in that event permits him to vote for as many persons for that office as he is by law entitled, and no more; that it identifies when an elector has not voted for all statewide constitutional offices; and that such machine will register correctly by means of exact counters every vote cast for the regular tickets thereon; and has the capacity to contain the tickets of at least 5 political parties with the names of all the candidates thereon, together with all propositions in the form provided by law, where such form is prescribed, and where no such provision is made for the form thereof, then in brief form, not to exceed 75 words; that all votes cast on the machine on a regular ballot or ballots shall be registered; that voters may, by means of irregular ballots or otherwise vote for any person for any office, although such person may not have been nominated by any party and his name may not appear on such machine; that when a vote is cast for any person for any such office, when his name does not appear on the machine, the elector cannot vote for any other name on the machine for the same office; that each elector can, understandingly and within the period of 4 minutes cast his vote for all candidates of his choice; that the machine is so constructed that the candidates for presidential electors of any party can be voted for only by voting for the ballot label containing a bracket within which are the names of the candidates for President and Vice-President of the party or group; that the machine is provided with a lock or locks by the use of which any movement of the voting or registering mechanism is absolutely prevented so that it cannot be tampered with or manipulated for any purpose; that the machine is susceptible of being closed during the progress of the voting so that no person can see or know the number of votes registered for any candidate; that each elector is permitted to vote for or against any question, proposition or amendment upon which he is entitled to vote, and is prevented from voting for or against any question, proposition or amendment upon which he is not entitled to vote; that the machine is capable of adjustment by the election authority, so as to permit the elector, at a party primary election, to vote only for the candidates seeking nomination by the political party in which primary he is entitled to vote: Provided, also that no such machine or machines shall be purchased, unless the party or parties making the sale shall guarantee in writing to keep the machine or machines in good working order for 5 years without additional cost and shall give a sufficient bond conditioned to that effect.

(Source: P.A. 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06; 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-1.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-1.1)

Sec. 24-1.1. The county board of each county having a population of 35,000 or more, with respect to all elections for which the county board or the county clerk is charged with the duty of providing materials and supplies, and each board of election commissioners in a municipality having a population of 35,000 or more with respect to elections under its jurisdiction, must provide either voting machines in accordance with this Article or electronic voting systems in accordance with Article 24A for each precinct for all such elections except as provided in Section 24-1.2 except in elections held pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article VI of the Constitution relating to retention of judges in office, in which event, the special ballot containing the propositions on the retention of judges may be placed on the voting machines or devices. For purposes of this Section 24-1.1, the term "population" does not include persons prohibited from voting by Section 3-5 of this Act.

Before voting machines or electronic voting systems are introduced, adopted or used in any precinct or territory at least 2 months public notice must be given before the date of the first election wherein such machines are to be used. The election authority shall publish the notice at least once in one or more newspapers published within its jurisdiction in which the election is held. If there is no such newspaper, the notice shall be published in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation within such political subdivision of this State. The notice shall be substantially as follows:

Notice is hereby given that on (give date), at (give place where election is held) in the county of .... an election will be held for (give name of office to be filled) at which voting machines will be used.

Dated at .... on (insert date).

The notice referred to herein shall be given only at the first election at which such voting machines or electronic voting systems are used.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-1.2) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-1.2)

Sec. 24-1.2. Paper ballots may be used for the conduct of the consolidated election in odd-numbered years, the special municipal primary in even-numbered years, and emergency referenda held at any time, except in regular elections in which the only offices or propositions on the ballot are for political subdivisions for which offices have heretofore been voted on using voting machines or electronic voting systems and except as otherwise provided by regulation of the State Board of Elections adopted pursuant to this Section.

The State Board of Elections may adopt regulations requiring the use of voting machines or electronic voting devices, as are available in the jurisdiction of the election authority, in such elections. Such regulations shall be applicable uniformly statewide, and shall require the use of such voting equipment only in those elections and only in those precincts where (1) the ballots to be voted are complex, due to large numbers of offices, candidates, or public questions required to be on the ballot, (2) the number of political subdivisions whose officers or public questions are to be included on the ballot is substantial, and (3) the use of such voting equipment is efficient, cost effective, and does not result in unjustified election expenses to be reimbursed by the political subdivisions that will share such expenses pursuant to Sections 17-30 through 17-33. Such regulations may provide reasonable classifications based on the above factors.

(Source: P.A. 90-358, eff. 1-1-98.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-2) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-2)

Sec. 24-2. The voting machine or machines to be used, adopted, purchased as herein provided must be so constructed as to meet all requirements specified in this Article.

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

(10 ILCS 5/24-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-3)

Sec. 24-3. The State Board of Elections shall appoint 2 mechanical experts to examine voting machines. No member of the board nor their appointees shall have any interest in any voting machine. Any person or corporation owning or being interested in any voting machine may apply to said board to examine such machine and report on its accuracy, efficiency, capacity and safety. The experts shall examine the machine and make full report thereon in the office of the State Board of Elections. They shall state in the report whether or not the kind of machine so examined complies with the requirements of this Article and can be safely used by voters at elections under the conditions prescribed in this Article. If the report be in the affirmative upon said questions, the machine shall be deemed approved by the board and the machines of its kind may be adopted for use at elections as herein provided. When the machine has been so approved any improvement or change that does not impair its accuracy, efficiency, capacity or safety shall not render necessary a re-examination or re-approval thereof. Any form of voting machine not so approved cannot be used at any election. Each of the 2 mechanical experts shall be entitled to $100 for his compensation and expenses in making such examination and report, to be paid by the person or corporation applying for such examination, which sum may be demanded in advance of making the examination, and which shall be the sole compensation to be received by any such expert. The board may, if it consents to do so, go to any point in the state for the purpose of examining a machine, but it shall not be compelled to make such examination at any place other than the capital of the state; Provided, that each of the 2 mechanical experts shall not receive and retain to exceed $1500 and reasonable expenses in any one year, and all sums collected for such examinations over and above said maximum salaries and reasonable expenses shall be turned into the State Treasury.

(Source: P.A. 78-918.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-4)

Sec. 24-4. The election authorities may provide for the experimental use, at any election or elections, in one or more election precincts, of a machine or machines which it might lawfully adopt, without a formal adoption thereof, and their use at such elections shall be as valid for all purposes as if they had been lawfully adopted.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-5) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-5)

Sec. 24-5. The local authorities may for the purpose of paying for such voting machines issue bonds, certificates of indebtedness, or other obligations, which shall be a charge on the city, village, incorporated town, county or other governmental taxing division. Such bonds, certificates or other obligations may be issued with or without interest, payable at such time or times as the authorities may determine, but shall not be issued or sold at less than par.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2702.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-6) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-6)

Sec. 24-6. For any election in which voting machines are to be used, the election precincts in which such voting machines are to be used may be created or consolidated into one area by the election authority so as to contain as near as may be five hundred voters for each voting machine to be used therein. The said consolidated precincts to consist of no more than four and to be contiguous and to be known as Consolidated Areas. When voting machines are used in contiguous precincts as now or hereafter established, they shall be consolidated in such manner as to provide for the efficient and economical use thereof. Such consolidation shall be made under such regulations as to time and manner as are now provided by law, shall be for the purpose of more efficient conduct of an election and shall not constitute a change in precinct boundaries.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-7) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-7)

Sec. 24-7. The election authority shall preserve and keep the voting machine or voting machines in repair, and shall have the custody thereof, and of the furniture and equipment of the polling place when not in use at an election. No person shall be employed or allowed to perform any mechanical services in connection with any voting machine which is used or to be used at any election or primary in which such person is a candidate.

(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-8) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-8)

Sec. 24-8. Location of voting machines; time allowed for voting; pollwatchers. The exterior of the voting machines, and every part of the polling place shall be in plain view of the election officials. The voting machine or voting machines shall be placed at least one foot from every wall and partition of the polling place and at least three (3) feet from any election officials or table used by them, and it shall be so placed that no person can see or determine how the voter casts his vote. After the opening of the polls, the election judges shall permit within the proximity of the voting machine or machines at any one time, not more than twice as many voters waiting to vote, as there are voting machines in use in that election precinct or district. They shall not themselves remain or permit any other person to remain in any position or near any position that would permit one to see or ascertain how a voter votes, or how he has voted. No voter shall remain within the voting booth or compartment longer than four (4) minutes, and if any voter shall refuse to leave after the expiration of four (4) minutes, he shall at once be removed by the election officials, or upon their order; provided, however, that one election judge may station himself at the side of the machine or machines for the express purpose of actuating the entrance knob, or other device so the voter can operate the voting machine and also in a primary, to set the primary lever or device, so as to enable the voter to vote in the party of which he is a member and to prevent the voter from voting for the candidate or candidates in any other party. The voting machine or machines shall be so placed in the polling place that the ballot labels on the face of the machine can be seen plainly by the precinct election officials and pollwatchers when not in use by the voters. The election precinct officials having charge of each machine shall inspect the face of the voting machine after each voter has completed the casting of his vote to see that the ballot labels are in proper position and that the machine has not been injured or tampered with, and after any voter has voted, the precinct election officials having charge of the machine shall, upon request, permit any pollwatcher to inspect the face of the voting machine to see that the ballot labels are in proper position and have not been injured or marked upon and that the machine has not been tampered with. If it shall be found that such mutilation or marking shall have occurred, the election board shall immediately notify the custodian of the voting machines, or the officer or board having charge of the preparation of the machines, and such custodian or officer or board shall forthwith replace such ballot labels with new ones. Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to carefully check the voting machine and its protective devices, and ballot labels and registering counters, before the polls may be declared open on election morning, and they shall be permitted to remain in the polling place at all times throughout the conduct of the election if desired, and after the close of the polls, to be present and check the protective devices and registering counters of each voting machine, and the official return sheets thereof.

(Source: P.A. 89-653, eff. 8-14-96.)

(10 ILCS 5/24-8.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-8.1)

Sec. 24-8.1. Whenever on the same day as a primary election there is also an election for officers or on propositions in which qualified voters have the right to vote without participating in the primary of any party, either a separate voting machine or a voting booth and paper ballots may be provided for those voters who do not wish to participate in the primary of any party. Such determination shall be made by resolution of the county board, municipal board of election commissioners or county board of election commissioners, whichever is applicable.

(Source: P.A. 79-200.)