POLITICIANS GO WHERE PEOPLE ARE...DISTRICT FAIR; 3 MILLION IS THE TARGET FOR REGISTRATION

Missouri Secretary of State Roy Blunt was traveling the state Thursday to drum up support for voter registration drives now under way in most counties.

Blunt, who is the state's chief election authority, has set a goal of having 3 million Missourians registered to vote by Oct. 14, the deadline to register for the Nov. 4 general election.

If that goal is reached, Blunt pointed out that it would be a 10 percent increase in registration over 1990 and set a record for registered voters in Missouri.

In 1984, there were 2.9 million registered voters and two years ago there were 2.7 million.

As part of his tour, Blunt visited the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park Thursday afternoon, where Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller, his staff and volunteers have been registering voters all week inside the Arena Building.

"It is quite rewarding to be out here because everyone appreciates it so much," said the clerk.

Miller has been promoting a Registration Outreach effort all year, setting up booths at factories, stores, public events like the fair, at schools and churches.

Miller said he anticipates as many as 300 new voters will be registered this week in drives at the fair and around the county. He believes that by the deadline, total registration could hit around 36,000 in the county. Between the August primary and the Oct. 14 deadline, Miller said it is possible that 2,000 new voters will be registered.

Blunt said he is optimistic his goal will be reached.

"I really think we will set an all-time record for registered voters this year," observed Blunt.

Both Blunt and Miller agreed that with 1992 being a presidential election year and a variety of candidates and issues to vote on, interest is running high in this election.

"With term limits, a 70-year record number of constitutional amendments as well as Bush, Clinton and Perot on the ballot, this may be one of the most interesting and important elections in recent Missouri history," said Blunt.

"With the work of our office and local election officials to register voters, and with the number of choices on the ballot, we should have 3 million Missourians registered to vote for the first time in state history."

Blunt stressed there are several other reasons why the goal could be met. Several years ago, at the urging of Blunt, the deadline for registering to vote was moved from 28 days before an election to 20 days. There is also no residency requirement, which means anyone who moves to the state can register immediately.

"These things work to our advantage," noted the secretary of state.

Miller said moving the deadline back has worked well because it gives people a longer opportunity to register.

"The closer it gets to the election the more people start thinking about the process," added Blunt.

Blunt said his visits are to try and draw attention to registration outreach efforts like the one here and to urge Missourians who are not registered to contact their county clerks for information about where to register.

"The best advice I can give is for people to call the county clerk's office in their county and see where they can register," noted Blunt.

Blunt said most county clerks make an effort to hold special registration opportunities, but added, "I think Cape County is a little more aggressive than many. But I think all counties support making registration easier."

A recent survey by the League of Women Voters listed Missouri as one of the 12 most difficult states to register to vote in. But Blunt said he does not believe the survey took into account the reduction in the deadline for registering and the flexibility in Missouri's law for local officials to conduct registration outreach programs.

Blunt said he supports taking the time to study moving back the deadline to 14 days before the election, but opposes same-day registration that some states have. He does support a "motor voter" program where a person can register while getting a driver's license.

Miller suggested that consideration might be given to having same-day registration - at least for a short ballot - for national and statewide offices.

Blunt, who was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor, will be leaving the secretary of state's office after eight years in January.

Miller praised Blunt for working closely with county clerks around the state and supporting voter registration and fair elections.

"I've always appreciated his efforts in regard to elections and registration," said Miller. "He has worked with a non-partisan attitude toward elections during his tenure in office."

Even if the goal of 3 million registered voters is met this fall, Blunt said there would still be one-fourth of the state's voting age population not registered.