RECORD NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS

Missouri has a record number of registered voters. But most of them won't vote in Tuesday's primary, state and local election officials predict.

More than 3.23 million people are registered to vote. But Secretary of State Bekki Cook anticipates that only 35 percent of them or around 1.2 million people will actually vote.

The August primary typically draws a lower turnout than the November general election.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

County clerks in Cape Girardeau, Scott, Perry and Bollinger counties expect voter turnout locally will mirror the statewide projection.

"Right now, there doesn't seem to be a lot of excitement out there," said Rodney Miller, Cape Girardeau County clerk.

Miller said there are few races in Cape County and those aren't generating much voter interest.

All four county clerks said they have seen little voter interest in Tuesday's primary for the 8th District congressional race.

Three Democrats and two Republicans are on the ballot. But for many Republicans in Southeast Missouri, the primary means little because independent candidate Jo Ann Emerson isn't on the ballot.

Emerson, who has the backing of GOP party leaders, expects to be on the November ballot.

"There will be some people that think she should be on this ballot," said Randy Taylor, Perry County clerk. "It is an Emerson county."

Statewide and in Southeast Missouri, counties have registered a record number of voters because of the National Voter Registration Act or motor-voter law, which took effect Jan. 1, 1995.

The federal law makes it easier for citizens to register to vote. People can now register to vote at license bureaus, social service agencies and state employment offices.

Since the law took effect, about 4,000 people have registered to vote in Cape Girardeau County. Many of them have registered at the license bureaus.

In Scott County, more than 3,500 had registered to vote through June at motor-voter sites. More than 1,900 of them registered at license bureaus; 1,200 at social service agencies and the Department of Health, 209 at Job Service offices and 100 by postcard, election officials said.

In Perry County, there are about 1,200 to 1,400 new voters on the rolls.

The number of registered voters in Bollinger County has climbed by about 200 in the last two years.

Getting the voters to the polls is another story.

Scott County Clerk Rita Milam said many of those who registered to vote at motor-voter sites have no intention of voting.

Miller said, "If you have more registered voters, then the percentage of turnout goes down."

Primaries just don't generate voter interest, Taylor said.

"People don't like to have to choose a ballot for one thing," he said.

In the primary, voters must choose either a Democratic, Republican or non-partisan ballot.

But only election issues such as constitutional amendments or tax measures are on the non-partisan ballot.

Taylor said many voters don't like the primary because they can't vote for a Republican candidate in one race and for a Democrat in another as they can do in the November election.