We can admit that it makes perfect sense to prohibit Americans running for elected office from participating in prediction markets where they could wager for or against themselves.

Three such congressional candidates were recently banned from Kalshi, with U.S. Senate candidate Mark Moran of Virginia receiving the highest fine at $6,229.30 — and maybe it should have been even higher. Candidates have a unique power to tank their own campaigns and profit from doing so while shredding all public trust in the democratic process. But should campaign staffers also be blocked from trading on races where they’re already invested in blood, sweat, and tears, for dismal pay and grueling hours?

No. Let them trade.

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An NPR report this week dug into the world of political campaign operatives investing for or against their campaigns, some making thousands on the election outcomes of their bosses. The framing is meant to make it feel corrupt — “insider trading” in the halls of democracy and on campaigns. But when it comes to elections, there’s a utility to this prediction market trading that’s being discounted. Namely, the public needs more information sources than campaign spin and biased polling.