TURNOUT PREDICTED AT 20 PERCENT

When Southeast Missouri voters head to the polls today, they will cast ballots for city offices, school boards and decide on bond issues for construction of new schools in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and a jail in Scott County.

Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While some races for city office and school boards are uncontested, county clerks still expect plenty of people to cast ballots.

Typically a municipal election, held every two years in April, attracts about 20 to 25 percent of the registered voters.

With issues like new schools, more people are expected, said Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller.

People need to be motivated to vote, said Dr. Peter Bergerson of the political science department at Southeast Missouri State University.

With the election there aren't any really contentious issues or personalities seeking office, so turnout could be low, Bergerson said.

"It's a nonpartisan election, so without the active participation of the parties and without the signs of their effects, it could hold it down," he said.

Generally statewide issues and general elections, held in November, show more participation where "there's a lot more at stake," he said.

"It's probably more exciting to vote for president than for city council or school board," said Jim Grebing, communications director for Secretary of State Bekki Cook. "But the city council and school board have a direct impact on your day-to-day life and how your tax dollars are spent. The local officials are the ones that affect your quality of life."

Changing the face of a council or school board can be done in a single election or series of elections. That change can greatly impact the entire community, Grebing said. "It's not that easy with the president or Congress."

For local races, having more than one candidate listed on the ballot can draw voters to the polling places.

"It's obvious that when you have two people running then it creates more interest," Miller said. "People feel like they are voting for something when there is a contested race."

Issues attract voters, Miller said.

Cape Girardeau voters will decide whether to approve an $18 million school bond issue.

The district wants the money to build a new high school and readjust other grades to better use the district's buildings.

The issue does not include a tax increase but will extend the existing measure for another three years.

The measure will take 57 percent of "yes" votes for approval. Based on previous elections, Superintendent Dan Steska estimates that number at 5,000 votes.

Jackson voters also will be asked to fund an $11 million bond measure that would help the school district build another elementary school and an addition to the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School. The measure also needs a 57 percent majority to pass.

The district is also asking voters for a waiver of the Proposition C half-cent sales tax. It would increase the debt levy by 40 cents and allow the district to hire more staff. It requires a simple majority for passage.

Cape Girardeau County is at its highest voter registration level, Miller said. Secretary of State Bekki Cook and local groups like Vision 2000 have worked to increase voter registration and participation.

Miller said there isn't a true correlation with every election, but having more registered votes means a greater turnout at the polls.

"It gives people an opportunity to go vote if they know they're registered," he said.

The Continuing the Commitment Committee for the Cape Girardeau school bond issue is offering transportation to the polls for voters who need rides.

It encourages people that might not have gone to vote before to go to the polls, Miller said. "It can't hurt."

Scott County Clerk Rita Milam isn't sure what to expect for today's election. The county usually averages 17 percent to 20 percent turnout during a municipal election.

Scott County voters will decide whether to support a half-cent sales tax that could generate $4 million for a new county jail. The tax would sunset after eight years.

If the measure passes, bonds will be issued to pay for construction of the 120-bed jail.

A simple majority is required for passage.

"It's hard to say," she said. "The jail issue is the only countywide issue on the ballot."

Most of the other issues are for city councils or boards of alderman and have few contested races.

Some seats don't even have a candidate listed on the ballot, so write-ins will be accepted, Milam said.