Outdated rules hurt would-be candidates

The Illinois State Board of Elections and the Cook County Election Board must modernize the candidate application process to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

While I was able to submit sensitive financial documents online to refinance my mortgage, qualified candidates in Cook County can still be disqualified over minor technicalities — such as using staples. This was the case for Mount Prospect village trustee candidate Jeannie Lee-Macatangay, highlighting how outdated rules create unnecessary barriers for those seeking to serve their communities.

The current, antiquated procedures give an unfair advantage to candidates who can afford to hire lawyers to exploit procedural loopholes and disqualify opponents. The real losers in this process are the voters, who are left with fewer choices and uncontested ballots. It’s no surprise that voter engagement in local elections remains dismal — why bother showing up when there’s no real competition?

Uncontested races weaken democracy. Candidates who face no opposition have little incentive to campaign, share their platforms, or engage with voters. Alarmingly, this problem even affects volunteer positions like village trustees and school board members, where elections should prioritize public service over legal gamesmanship.

It’s time to streamline and modernize the archaic candidate application process. By lowering barriers to entry for competent community members, we can ensure local elections are competitive, accessible, and focused on giving voters real choices. Let’s reform the system to prioritize the most qualified and community-focused candidates — not those who exploit trivial technicalities.

Fay Costa

Mount Prospect