Last year, some Chicago candidates and voters filed a federal lawsuit challenging the requirement that citywide candidates need 12,500 signatures, and no voter may sign more than one petition for a single office. Chicago elections are non-partisan and the city elects three citywide offices, Mayor, City Clerk, and Treasurer.

On July 27, the U.S. District Court revived the case, which has not yet received any decision on declaratory relief. The judge had dismissed the case on July 8, but now he has reversed himself on reconsideraton. It is very rare for any federal judge to ever grant reconsideration on anything, even procedural matters. The case, Stone v Neal, will have a status conference on October 26.