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Standing in and After Bost

The Supreme Court in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections held that any candidate for office has automatic standing to contest ballot‑counting procedures, even without showing the rule will affect the election outcome. The five‑justice majority rejected the traditional history‑and‑tradition test and embraced a fairness‑based “fair competition” rationale, while four justices dissented. The decision signals a broader realignment of standing doctrine, potentially widening challenges to election rules, affirmative‑action programs, and other procedural policies. Legal scholars note the opinion’s emphasis on systemic pragmatism and relative standing.