Voter deadline approaches for Missouri presidential primary, Jackson election

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri residents hoping to vote in next month's presidential primary have only a couple of days left to register to vote.

The secretary of state's office says people must register by Wednesday to be eligible to vote in the Feb. 7 primary. For those not registering in person, a registration card must be postmarked Wednesday at the latest. Voters whose addresses are unchanged don't need to register again.

Missouri's primary will serve basically as a public opinion poll for the Republican candidates seeking to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama. That's because the state Republican Party has opted to use a caucus system that starts in March to award delegates to the national convention at which the GOP nominee will be officially selected.

Locally, the deadline also applies to Jackson residents who want to vote on whether or not to allow annexations of certain Fruitland properties. That election also takes place on Feb. 7.