10 ILCS 5/23-23
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 23 - Contesting Elections

 (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. The election authority          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 court, and all such compensation and allowances when  approved by the court shall be taxed and allowed as costs in such cause.  The  court may from time to time, upon the court's own motion or upon the  application of the election authority or of any party to said cause, require the parties to the  cause or any of them to deposit such amounts of money with the court as  security for costs as the court may deem reasonable and proper.Any petitioner may amend his petition at any time before the completion  of the recount by withdrawing his request for a recount of certain  precincts, or by requesting a recount of additional specified precincts.  The petitioner shall deposit or shall cause to be deposited, such amounts  of money as the court may require as security for costs for such additional  precincts as the court may deem reasonable and proper.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. 94-647, eff. 1-1-06.)