Cape Girardeau voters Tuesday will decide on two local ballot issues: the annexation of Twin Lakes subdivision and the boundaries for city ward elections.

Passage of the annexation issue would expand the city limits west of Interstate 55 along Hopper Road and add more than 200 people to Cape Girardeau's population.

Twin Lakes residents last fall petitioned the city for annexation. Of the 99 properties in the subdivision, owners of 75 signed the petition, representing 112 of the 155 acres in the tract.

Those residents also will have the opportunity Tuesday to vote on the measure. If a simple majority of voters in the city and Twin Lakes approves the annexation, it will pass.

However, if the issue fails in either area, there must be a second election in which the votes are combined and a two-thirds majority is required for passage.

The city ward boundary issue was prompted by voter approval last November of a plan to switch from at-large to ward representation on the city council.

When voters initially approved the measure, which was inspired by a petition initiative, City Attorney Warren Wells said that the ward boundaries as drawn likely were unconstitutional.

A Zone Election Committee was formed to redraw the boundaries varying as little from the approved measure as possible for a new proposal to be resubmitted to voters.

The committee also clarified other issues that pertained to ward elections and the city charter.

If approved by voters Tuesday, the amended charter would provide for election next April of a council member from each of three new districts: Wards 1, 2 and 6. In April 1996, voters would elect council members for Wards 3, 4 and 5.

Voters who live in Ward 1 will vote as usual at Red Star Baptist Church, County Clerk Rodney Miller said.

Voters in the ward use the activity building across from the church as a polling place; however, floodwaters from the Mississippi River have threatened the church property. Also, the church is included in a curfew area that has been established to prevent non-residents from entering the flooded area.

"We have talked to people at Red Star and with the police department about the curfew, and it seems to be workable to vote there," said Miller. "But, if at the last minute we have to move, then we will. But for now we will try to use it."

Miller said he is assuming people who live in Red Star are familiar with Red Star Baptist Church, what streets are blocked off and how to get to the church. He suggested that people take North Main southward to the church.

The clerk said anyone who has had to move out of the area because of the flood can either vote at Red Star or cast an absentee ballot at the Common Pleas Courthouse Annex from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through Friday. Absentees can be cast until 5 p.m. Monday.

On Tuesday, polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Twin Lakes residents, who reside in Brown Owl precinct, will vote on annexation at their normal polling place: the Department of Conservation Building in North Cape County Park.

Information for this story was compiled by Political Editor Jim Grebing and Staff Writer Jay Eastlick.