How many more candidates with made-up military credentials, academic degrees, and more will get elected?

Background checks are standard in the private sector and account for a $4.1-billion-per-year industry. You need a background check to become a lawyer, coach Little League or work in a Boys and Girls Club.

Everyone who works for the federal government is vetted through a standardized background investigation. Everyone, that is, except members of Congress and the president.

At the same time, these officials often have access to highly classified information or other vital information not available to the public.

Just like any employer, voters deserve to get background information on the candidates before they vote to hire one.

According to the Society for Human Resources Management, over half of the resumes received by employers contain misleading or false information. How many candidate resumes are bogus?

Providing this information to the public will reduce the chances of electing people who might pose a risk of corruption or a threat to national security.

Federal law already requires all federal candidates to fill out a financial disclosure form. It’s time that candidates also fill out a background information form and make the information available to the public.