Special elections

Legislation under consideration in the Missouri General assembly would require special elections to fill long-term vacancies in federal and most state executive offices. The thinking behind these legislative efforts is that voters ought to decide who holds elective office, not the governor.

This effort has a solid foundation in its attempt to make sure voters decide who will hold certain federal and statewide elective offices. Gubernatorial appointments often are made to give a political advantage to those who will later seek full terms.

But, as we've editorialized before, special elections to fill vacancies should only be held when regularly scheduled elections occur. Some states have faced enormous expenditures to hold special elections just to fill vacancies. Had that voting been deferred until the next regular election, cost wouldn't have been such a critical factor.

The notion that voters should choose who represents them in state and federal government is a good one. But keep in mind that special elections ought to coincide with regular elections to keep costs in control.

And any sound approach regarding special elections should be a permanent fix, not one subject to political whims that aim to provide an advantage to one party or the other.