2026 IL App (1st) 260020-U No. 1-26-0020 Order filed February 24, 2026 Third Division
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________ IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________ MARY “MAY” LARRY, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Petitioner-Appellant, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 25 COEL 0019 ) TERESA MCKELVY, ) Honorable ) Mary S. Trew, Respondent-Appellee. ) Judge, presiding.
JUSTICE LAMPKIN delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Martin and Justice Rochford concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to review petitioner’s petition for judicial review of the decision of the county officers electoral board because petitioner failed to strictly comply with the statutory requirements to name necessary parties as respondents and timely file a proof of service.
¶2 Petitioner Mary “May” Larry sought judicial review of the decision of the Cook County
Officers Electoral Board (electoral board), which had ruled that her name would not appear on the
ballot for the office she sought in the March 2026 general primary election because she failed to No. 1-26-0020
obtain a sufficient amount of signatures on her nomination papers. The circuit court dismissed
petitioner’s petition for judicial review based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
¶3 On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erroneously dismissed her petition for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction because she strictly complied with all the statutory requirements
for judicial review, including timely filing her petition, properly naming the required respondents,
timely service by certified mail, and filing a proof of service.
¶4 For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court. 1
¶5 I. BACKGROUND
¶6 Petitioner filed nomination papers to appear on the ballot for the office of Proviso
Township democratic committeeperson for the March 17, 2026, general primary election.
Respondent Teresa McKelvy filed an objector’s petition to petitioner’s nomination papers. On
December 10, 2025, the electoral board issued its decision finding that petitioner’s nomination
papers contained an insufficient number of signatures to appear on the ballot for the office she
sought. The decision sustained respondent’s objector’s petition and ordered that petitioner’s name
not appear on the ballot for the office of Proviso Township democratic committeeperson at the
March 17, 2026, general primary election.
¶7 Petitioner, within the required five days, filed on December 15, 2025, a pro se document
styled as “Notice of Appeal Precedent for Ballot Placement” with the clerk of the court. The circuit
court regarded this filing as a petition for judicial review. On December 18, 2025, respondent filed
1 In adherence with the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 352(a) (eff. July 1, 2018), this appeal has been resolved without oral argument upon the entry of a separate written order.
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a motion to dismiss the petition for judicial review. Thereafter, petitioner filed a response to the
motion to dismiss, and respondent filed a reply.
¶8 On January 6, 2026, the circuit court granted respondent’s motion to dismiss, finding that
petitioner failed to strictly comply with the statutory provision requiring her to name as
respondents in her petition the electoral board and its members within five days after service of
the electoral board’s decision. Accordingly, the court found that it lacked subject matter
jurisdiction to hear petitioner’s petition for judicial review and ruled that the decision of the
electoral board will stand.
¶9 On January 9, 2026, petitioner timely appealed the circuit court’s decision. In the caption
of her notice of appeal, petitioner named as respondents—in addition to McKelvy—the electoral
board, its three members, and a designee of the electoral board’s chairperson. These newly named
respondents filed an emergency motion to dismiss the appeal as to them, which this court granted
on February 13, 2026.
¶ 10 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 11 On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in dismissing her petition based on
a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because she complied with section 10-10.1(a) of the Election
Code (Pub. Act 103-600 (eff. July 1, 2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a))).
¶ 12 Section 2-619(a)(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1) (West 2024))
allows dismissal when the circuit court “does not have jurisdiction of the subject matter of the
action.” We review an order dismissing an action pursuant to section 2-619 de novo. Cahokia Unit
School District No. 187 v. Pritzker, 2021 IL 126212, ¶ 24.
-3- No. 1-26-0020
¶ 13 Circuit courts may exercise jurisdiction over election cases only as provided by statute.
Pullen v. Mulligan, 138 Ill. 2d 21, 32 (1990); Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, § 9 (“Circuit Courts shall
have such power to review administrative action as provided by law.”). When a court exercises
special statutory jurisdiction, that jurisdiction is limited to the language of the act conferring it,
and the court has no powers from any other source. Fredman Brothers Furniture Co. v. Department
of Revenue, 109 Ill. 2d 202, 210 (1985). In the exercise of special statutory jurisdiction, if the mode
of procedure prescribed by statute is not strictly pursued, no jurisdiction is conferred on the circuit
court. Id.
¶ 14 The statutory authority for judicial review of the electoral board’s final administrative
decision is contained in section 10-10.1(a) of the Election Code. Pub. Act 103-600 (eff. July 1,
2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a)). Strict compliance with section 10-10.1(a) is required.
Bettis v. Marsaglia, 2014 IL 117050, ¶ 16. Whether petitioner complied with section 10-10.1(a) is
an issue of statutory construction, which we review de novo. Id. ¶ 12. In Bettis, our supreme court
set out the rules of statutory construction:
“When construing a statute, this court’s primary objective is to ascertain and give
effect to the intent of the legislature. [Citation.] The best indication of legislative intent is
the language used in the statute, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning.
[Citation.] It is improper for a court to depart from the plain statutory language by reading
into the statute exceptions, limitations, or conditions that conflict with the clearly expressed
legislative intent. [Citation.] Words and phrases should not be viewed in isolation, but
should be considered in light of other relevant provisions of the statute. [Citation.] Further,
each word, clause and sentence of a statute must be given a reasonable construction, if
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possible, and should not be rendered superfluous. [Citation.] This court presumes that the
legislature did not intend absurdity, inconvenience, or injustice. [Citation.] Where statutory
language is clear and unambiguous, it will be given effect without resort to other aids of
construction.
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2026 IL App (1st) 260020-U No. 1-26-0020 Order filed February 24, 2026 Third Division
NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1). ______________________________________________________________________________ IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________ MARY “MAY” LARRY, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Petitioner-Appellant, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 25 COEL 0019 ) TERESA MCKELVY, ) Honorable ) Mary S. Trew, Respondent-Appellee. ) Judge, presiding.
JUSTICE LAMPKIN delivered the judgment of the court. Presiding Justice Martin and Justice Rochford concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The circuit court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to review petitioner’s petition for judicial review of the decision of the county officers electoral board because petitioner failed to strictly comply with the statutory requirements to name necessary parties as respondents and timely file a proof of service.
¶2 Petitioner Mary “May” Larry sought judicial review of the decision of the Cook County
Officers Electoral Board (electoral board), which had ruled that her name would not appear on the
ballot for the office she sought in the March 2026 general primary election because she failed to No. 1-26-0020
obtain a sufficient amount of signatures on her nomination papers. The circuit court dismissed
petitioner’s petition for judicial review based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
¶3 On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erroneously dismissed her petition for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction because she strictly complied with all the statutory requirements
for judicial review, including timely filing her petition, properly naming the required respondents,
timely service by certified mail, and filing a proof of service.
¶4 For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court. 1
¶5 I. BACKGROUND
¶6 Petitioner filed nomination papers to appear on the ballot for the office of Proviso
Township democratic committeeperson for the March 17, 2026, general primary election.
Respondent Teresa McKelvy filed an objector’s petition to petitioner’s nomination papers. On
December 10, 2025, the electoral board issued its decision finding that petitioner’s nomination
papers contained an insufficient number of signatures to appear on the ballot for the office she
sought. The decision sustained respondent’s objector’s petition and ordered that petitioner’s name
not appear on the ballot for the office of Proviso Township democratic committeeperson at the
March 17, 2026, general primary election.
¶7 Petitioner, within the required five days, filed on December 15, 2025, a pro se document
styled as “Notice of Appeal Precedent for Ballot Placement” with the clerk of the court. The circuit
court regarded this filing as a petition for judicial review. On December 18, 2025, respondent filed
1 In adherence with the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 352(a) (eff. July 1, 2018), this appeal has been resolved without oral argument upon the entry of a separate written order.
-2- No. 1-26-0020
a motion to dismiss the petition for judicial review. Thereafter, petitioner filed a response to the
motion to dismiss, and respondent filed a reply.
¶8 On January 6, 2026, the circuit court granted respondent’s motion to dismiss, finding that
petitioner failed to strictly comply with the statutory provision requiring her to name as
respondents in her petition the electoral board and its members within five days after service of
the electoral board’s decision. Accordingly, the court found that it lacked subject matter
jurisdiction to hear petitioner’s petition for judicial review and ruled that the decision of the
electoral board will stand.
¶9 On January 9, 2026, petitioner timely appealed the circuit court’s decision. In the caption
of her notice of appeal, petitioner named as respondents—in addition to McKelvy—the electoral
board, its three members, and a designee of the electoral board’s chairperson. These newly named
respondents filed an emergency motion to dismiss the appeal as to them, which this court granted
on February 13, 2026.
¶ 10 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 11 On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in dismissing her petition based on
a lack of subject matter jurisdiction because she complied with section 10-10.1(a) of the Election
Code (Pub. Act 103-600 (eff. July 1, 2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a))).
¶ 12 Section 2-619(a)(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(1) (West 2024))
allows dismissal when the circuit court “does not have jurisdiction of the subject matter of the
action.” We review an order dismissing an action pursuant to section 2-619 de novo. Cahokia Unit
School District No. 187 v. Pritzker, 2021 IL 126212, ¶ 24.
-3- No. 1-26-0020
¶ 13 Circuit courts may exercise jurisdiction over election cases only as provided by statute.
Pullen v. Mulligan, 138 Ill. 2d 21, 32 (1990); Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, § 9 (“Circuit Courts shall
have such power to review administrative action as provided by law.”). When a court exercises
special statutory jurisdiction, that jurisdiction is limited to the language of the act conferring it,
and the court has no powers from any other source. Fredman Brothers Furniture Co. v. Department
of Revenue, 109 Ill. 2d 202, 210 (1985). In the exercise of special statutory jurisdiction, if the mode
of procedure prescribed by statute is not strictly pursued, no jurisdiction is conferred on the circuit
court. Id.
¶ 14 The statutory authority for judicial review of the electoral board’s final administrative
decision is contained in section 10-10.1(a) of the Election Code. Pub. Act 103-600 (eff. July 1,
2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a)). Strict compliance with section 10-10.1(a) is required.
Bettis v. Marsaglia, 2014 IL 117050, ¶ 16. Whether petitioner complied with section 10-10.1(a) is
an issue of statutory construction, which we review de novo. Id. ¶ 12. In Bettis, our supreme court
set out the rules of statutory construction:
“When construing a statute, this court’s primary objective is to ascertain and give
effect to the intent of the legislature. [Citation.] The best indication of legislative intent is
the language used in the statute, which must be given its plain and ordinary meaning.
[Citation.] It is improper for a court to depart from the plain statutory language by reading
into the statute exceptions, limitations, or conditions that conflict with the clearly expressed
legislative intent. [Citation.] Words and phrases should not be viewed in isolation, but
should be considered in light of other relevant provisions of the statute. [Citation.] Further,
each word, clause and sentence of a statute must be given a reasonable construction, if
-4- No. 1-26-0020
possible, and should not be rendered superfluous. [Citation.] This court presumes that the
legislature did not intend absurdity, inconvenience, or injustice. [Citation.] Where statutory
language is clear and unambiguous, it will be given effect without resort to other aids of
construction. [Citation.] However, where the meaning of an enactment is unclear from the
statutory language itself, the court may look beyond the language employed and consider
the purpose behind the law and the evils the law was designed to remedy.” Id. ¶ 13.
¶ 15 Section 10-10.1(a), which was recently amended in July 2024, provides, in relevant part:
“(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a candidate or objector aggrieved
by the decision of an electoral board may secure judicial review of such decision in the
circuit court of the county in which the hearing of the electoral board was held. The party
seeking judicial review must file, within 5 days after service of the decision of the electoral
board as provided in Section 10-10, a petition with the clerk of the court that names as
respondents the electoral board, its members, and the prevailing candidates or objectors in
the initial proceeding before the board. The party seeking judicial review must serve a copy
of the petition upon each of the respondents named in the petition for judicial review by
registered or certified mail within 5 days after service of the decision of the electoral board
as provided in Section 10-10. The petition shall contain a brief statement of the reasons
why the decision of the board should be reversed. The petitioner shall file proof of service
with the clerk of the court within 5 days after service of the decision of the electoral board
as provided in Section 10-10. No answer to the petition need be filed, but the electoral
board shall cause the record of proceedings before the electoral board to be filed with the
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clerk of the court on or before the date of the hearing on the petition or as ordered by the
court.” Pub. Act 103-600 (eff. July 1, 2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a)).
“As set forth in section 10-10.1(a), a party contesting a decision of an electoral
board must meet four requirements: (1) ‘file, within 5 days after service of the decision
***, a petition with the clerk of the court that names as respondents the electoral board, its
members, and the prevailing candidates or objectors in the initial proceeding before the
board’; (2) ‘serve a copy of the petition upon each of the respondents named in the petition
for judicial review by registered or certified mail within 5 days after service of the decision
of the electoral board’; (3) state in that petition ‘why the decision of the board should be
reversed’; and (4) ‘file proof of service with the clerk of the court within 5 days after service
of the decision of the electoral board.’ ” Williams v. Municipal Officers Electoral Board
for Village of Hazel Crest, 2025 IL App (1st) 242534, ¶ 13.
¶ 16 Here, the statutory language relating to naming necessary parties (the first requirement)
and timely filing proof of service (the fourth requirement) are at issue. The plain and ordinary
language of section 10-10.1(a) required petitioner to “file *** a petition *** that names as
respondents the electoral board, its members, and the *** objectors.” (Emphasis added.) Pub. Act
103-600 (eff. July 1, 2024) (amending 10 ILCS 5/10-10.1(a)). Clearly, the statute required
petitioner to name the electoral board and its three individual members as respondents in her
petition, in addition to the objector (McKelvy). Petitioner’s petition, however, only named
McKelvy as a respondent. Furthermore, although the record indicates that petitioner did timely
serve her petition on the electoral board and its members (in addition to McKelvy) by certified
mail on December 15, 2025, petitioner failed to meet the fourth requirement regarding timely proof
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of service. Specifically, the record shows that she did not file the requisite proof of her service of
her petition by certified mail on the electoral board and its members with the clerk of the court
until December 16, 2025, which was one day after the deadline. These dictates of section 10-
10.1(a) regarding naming necessary respondents in the petition and timely filing proof of service
are clear and not confusing, and thus must be strictly observed. See Bettis, 2014 IL 117050, ¶¶ 16,
22-23, 28.
¶ 17 We conclude that petitioner’s failure to (1) name the electoral board and its members as
respondents in her petition, and (2) timely file with the clerk of the court the requisite proof of
service of her petition by certified mail on the electoral board and its members deprived the circuit
court of subject matter jurisdiction. Consequently, we affirm the circuit court’s dismissal of
petitioner’s petition.
¶ 18 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 19 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court.
¶ 20 Affirmed.
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