In case you may have missed it, there is a drive currently going on throughout the state to equalize the ballot access requirements for third party and independent candidates for elected office. If successful, the result would be more choices on the ballot and a higher standard of accountability for all candidates and elected officials.

Naysayers may point to other countries that have fair and open elections and note instances where there are ten candidates for a particular office. They night add that if we allow fair and open elections in Illinois, it would clutter the ballot. I take issue with that assertion. The current state of electoral choice is such that many voters do not have an alternative to the incumbent candidate. In 1998, Rockford voters were treated to 14 unopposed races, not including judicial seats. Among those unopposed races were the 16th U.S. Congressional District, the 34th and 35th Senate Districts, the 67th and 68th Representative Districts, and 8 County Board seats.

In some cases, candidates run unopposed because a willing third party or independent candidate has been removed from the ballot due to onerous petition signature requirements. Some of the "unopposed" races that had independent or third party candidates removed were the 16th U.S. Congressional District, the 34th Senate District, and the 67th Representative District. In these races, there were willing, eager challengers to the incumbent candidate, but the voters weren't give the choice. The would-be challengers in these races were thrown off of the ballot due to insufficient petition signatures.

With equalized ballot access laws, the voters in those districts would have had a choice of candidates to represent them. Even though the third party candidates might not have won, it still would have made the incumbents campaign and work for the privelege of serving the people.

The situation is not getting better, either. In 1994, another non-presidential election year, there were eight unopposed races, not counting judicial seats. In 1996, a presidential election year, there were only six unopposed races. Voter apathy is said to be caused by many things. With an electoral ballot that is beginning to look like the old Soviet system of one candidate to choose, it is no wonder many voters have decided not to exercise their right to vote for those who represent them.

For more information, or to get involved in ballot access equalization, got to the Coalition for Equal Ballot Access website at http://lprockford.8m.com/ballot.html .

Jason Zenda is a member of the Rockford Area Libertarians and the Coalition for Equal Ballot Access.