Clerk says 7 apply for voter registration on deadline day

Wednesday was the deadline for registering to vote in Missouri's primary, and Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark-Summers said the day brought seven new voter registration applications into the clerk's offices in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Applications postmarked by 5 p.m. Wednesday are still accepted.

Clark-Summers said while seven may seem low, voter registration is an ongoing process and does not occur only during election years. She said the county has registered 3,988 new voters since the last presidential election, including 1,376 since January. Cape Girardeau County has a total of 51,254 registered voters.

Clark-Summers said during the recent validation of petitions regarding riverboat casinos, she noticed many residents have outdated addresses on their voter registration information. While voters can change their registration information at any time up to election day, she urged voters to do it as soon as possible. Often a change of address means a change of voting location and having that information before going to the polls prevents confusion, she said.

To change an address, complete the information on the back of the voter registration card and return it to the county clerk's office. If the card has been misplaced, a signed letter stating both the former and current address can be faxed to the office at 204-2418.

Residents who have not registered to vote may do so until Oct. 6 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

Voter registration applications are available at the county clerk's offices, driver's license bureau offices, state social service agency offices and most public libraries.

Information about registering to vote, changing an address or other voting information is available by calling the clerk's office at 243-3547.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-6635

Pertinent Address

44 N. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1 Barton Square, Suite 301, Jackson, MO