Possible fraud cases highlight need for election reform

The Anne Arundel County Board of Elections has reported seven cases of possible "double voting" from the last presidential election, and one criminal case is pending in state court.

While elections officials stress that fraud isn't rampant in the state, the issue is taking on new urgency as the 2006 contests approach.

The General Assembly last week overrode the governor's vetoes of bills that will allow people to vote up to a week before an election and cast provisional ballots anywhere in Maryland.

"The word 'fraud' is coming about more and more," said Barbara Fisher, the county's elections chief. "I think people are...