TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL NEEDS POWER TO MONITOR, INVESTIGATE

As it stands right now, the public -- voters and candidates alike -- still don't know what results, if any, are being produced by a federal investigation into allegations of voting irregularities during last year's general election in Mississippi County. The FBI was asked by U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to look into charges of vote buying. But because of the FBI's lid on information about the probe, not even the county clerk there is sure if there was an investigation or if it is continuing.

Moreover, Missouri's chief election official, Secretary of State Bekki Cook, is powerless to intervene. Unless specifically requested, the secretary of state's office has no authority to investigate or monitor the voting process in the Show Me State. In the case of Mississippi County, no official there asked for state help when the allegations first came up.

Cook would like to have the authority to see that election laws are properly followed throughout the state. To that end, she is urging the Legislature to adopt proposed changes in the law that would give the secretary of state broad investigative powers whenever questions are raised about elections.

These powers would be appropriate for the state's top election official. They might also permit better communication with the public about the allegations and whether or not they are being looked into. The silence of federal officials regarding ongoing investigations does little to instill confidence. When local elected officials can't even find out if the charges merit investigation, something is wrong with the process.

As could be expected, legislators are likely to tinker with Cook's legislative proposal regarding the secretary of state's role in monitoring elections and investigating problems that arise. It can be hoped that they won't fiddle so much that the state's top election official remains hamstrung in the logical pursuit of fair and open elections.