Sen. Bond gives testimony at election reform hearing

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Republican Sen. Kit Bond opened a hearing Monday of an interim state Senate panel examining election reform with a familiar call for legislation that "makes it easier for citizens to vote, but harder for people to cheat."

Bond testified before the state Senate Interim Committee to Reform Election and Campaign Finance Laws at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. The committee, chaired by state Sen. Anita Yeckel, was created in the wake of the November and March elections in Missouri and St. Louis.

Democrats alleged that thousands of people were kept from voting last Nov. 7, while Republicans said that hundreds of illegal ballots were cast. Federal authorities also are investigating possible irregularities in St. Louis' March 6 mayoral primary.

Bond said he is working with Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, on federal legislation to require voter notification if they cast a ballot with undervotes or overvotes, begin provisional voting and require sample ballots be mailed to registered voters before an election.

Bond says he wants to make sure anti-fraud measures also are included in the bill.