A U.S. District Court in Illinois is currently adjudicating a lawsuit against the state’s 5% (of the last vote cast) petition requirement for U.S. House. The trial in the case had been set for September 18, 2018, but it has now been moved to April 16, 2019. Discovery is still underway.

Illinois and Georgia are the only states in which independent candidates for U.S. House need a petition greater than 3% of the last gubernatorial vote. The Georgia case against the 5% (of the number of registered voters) is also undergoing discovery and will probably have a trial this year.

Attorneys for Illinois have made a hint about settling the case, but that would involve persuading the legislature. The later trial date gives the 2019 session of the legislature an opportunity to pass a bill that eases the requirement.