Hearing in Cape on need for voting reforms

Election reform has been an important subject nationwide and especially in Missouri, thanks to the appalling events of last November's election in St. Louis.

Late in the afternoon of Election Day last year, lawyers for the Missouri Democratic Party and for the Al Gore campaign went into court, seeking an order to keep the polls open past the 7 p.m. closing time. They found a compliant judge in the city who issued the order.

At the same hour, pre-recorded telephone calls featuring the voice of the Rev. Jesse Jackson blanketed city wards, urging voters who hadn't voted to head down to the office of the Election Board, where they would be allowed to vote. A dozen or so city judges were lined up, signing orders by the dozens, allowing people to vote.

Within an hour, a panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals reversed that judge's order, amid much chaos down at the Election Board's offices. An investigation by Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt revealed that many people voted twice. Others were allowed to vote who had never registered.

All this highly unusual and scandalous activity got the attention of U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office. The latter took the whole episode before a grand jury, which is investigating.

The whole outrageous charade, details of which are only hinted at here, would have received far more attention had Florida not unfolded as it did.

A special committee of the Missouri Senate will hold public hearings at 8 a.m. Thursday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

We hope a large crowd turns out to give our lawmakers some wise counsel on how to make sure our election laws protect the integrity of the ballot box.