Although the mayor doesn't like it, East Cape Girardeau, Ill., voters will have to drive to McClure to vote in the April 13 election for three village trustees.

The reason is that Alexander County doesn't want to have to pay the expense of extra poll workers, and consolidation of precincts holds down election expenses.

Only once have East Cape Girardeau voters cast ballots in East Cape since the county decided to consolidate polling places. That was in 1997 when the East Cape municipal election was the only issue on the ballot.

The county is asking too much for 50 voters to travel six miles to McClure to vote. If the mayor finds residents don't like it, arrangements should be made for East Cape to pick up the costs of a polling place so they can vote at home.