Unidentified Disqualifying Objections

Once upon a time in Illinois, if you owed your city or township back taxes all you needed to do was get elected mayor or supervisor and forgive the debt. Those were the days, your LakeCountyEye remembers them well. But then some spoilsport googoo legislators down in Springfield went and ruined all the fun. Nowadays owing money to your town or township is grounds to get you knocked off the ballot. As readers of this blog are dimly aware ...

Objectionists

One candidate for village president in Island Lake is the target of a ballot objection because he hadn't paid his garbage bill. Haha, nice try.

The requirements that need to be met to appear on the Illinois ballot are so arcane and complex that it is a wonder that anyone gets certified to be a candidate. Your LakeCountyEye recalls one prominent candidate who was tossed off a ballot for high office because his birth certificate was issued in Kenya. Your LakeCountyEye does not remember this politician's name, in all likelihood he is presently mouldering on the scrapheap of history. A true story, all the same.

Your LakeCountyEye has read the all the Illinois election laws -- so you don't have to -- and has identified the pitfalls to avoid before submitting your nominating papers. Ten of them, coincidentally:

Ten Common Filing Mistakes that are Sufficient Grounds to Remove a Candidate from the Ballot in Illinois

Petitions Notarized with Chiquita Banana Stickers Candidate's Statement of Economic Interest: 1-800-CASH-4-GOLD Name of Candidate: Princess Nudelman No Currency Stapled to Nominating Papers On Loyalty Oath, Pledges Loyalty to the Orange and Blue Statement of Candidacy was not Phrased in the Form of a Question Insufficient Frequent Flier Miles Someone in the County Clerk's Office Doesn't Like Your Looks Elected Office Sought: Queen of Sheba Petitions Signed by Some Guy Named Barney Baxter

Look for your LakeCountyEye, carrying a blue or black ink pen.