Lyons MVP Party v. Lyons, Illinois, Municipal Officers Electoral Board 

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Election Code
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 1-11-0439
Decision Date: 
Thursday, March 10, 2011
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 1st Div.
Holding: 
Reversed with instructions.
Justice: 
R.E. GORDON
Court affirmed decision of Municipal Electoral Board to invalidate nomination papers filed by new political party and its slate of candidates for municipal election, finding nomination papers invalid as the petition sheets identified "MVP Party" yet statements of candidacy were on forms with the heading "nonpartisan". As "nonpartisan" did not appear on petition sheets, and as petition sheets informed signers of name of party, candidates should have been allowed place on ballot. Doctrine of laches inapplicable, as Petitioners filed notice of appeal eight days after circuit court's decision, and motion for expedited appeal was granted; and no prejudice resulted from any delay, as even if Petitioners had filed notice of appeal day after circuit court decision, ballots would still have had to be reprinted. (GARCIA and McBRIDE, concurring.