VOTER REGISTRATION UNIFORMITY SOUGHT; REVIEW FINDS LACK OF STANDARDIZED FORM

Cape Girardeau is one of a number of counties across that state that requests a Social Security number from people registering to vote without informing them that supplying the information is voluntary.

A review of voter registration by The Joplin Globe found no standardized form in use across the state, a practice secretary of state Rebecca Cook finds disturbing.

The variety of questions asked on the forms even differs within the same county. In Jasper County, some are asked for their Social Security number and occupation, and some are not. Some people are asked if they are naturalized citizens, others are not.

Those registering by mail and at motor vehicle, welfare and public assistance agencies can fill out the 1997 "Missouri Voter Registration Application," but those registering in person at county election sites sometimes are asked more personal information than required by the state.

Cook said she was unaware of the inconsistencies between the forms.

Some of those include:

-- In Vernon, Barton, Newton, McDonald, Lawrence and Dade counties, election officials may fill in height, eye color, weight and distinguishing marks if voters sign with an "X."

-- Outdated forms that don't inform applicants that providing Social Security number, occupation, telephone number and mother's maiden name is optional by law.

The Cape Girardeau County form requests all four pieces of information without providing an option.

The state law says voter registrations must include name, home address, birth date, birthplace and personal identification.

People must also sign an oath they are U.S. citizens, Missouri residents and have not been judged mentally incapacitated by a court of law.

Cook's office stopped requiring Social Security numbers after complaints by the American Civil Liberties Union, which is concerned that the number can provide access to a person's medical, insurance, banking, employment and tax history.

Cape Girardeau County recently sent out 43,000 voter I.D. cards. The cards are to be presented by voters at polling places but are also used as a means of canvassing. When cards are returned because of incorrect addresses, the clerk's office attempts to find the people and have them change their addresses, to avoid confusion on election day.

The cost of sending out the voter I.D. cards is 17.9 cents a card.

Rodney Miller, the Cape Girardeau county clerk, says the Social Security number can be helpful in finding people, especially when they share the same name.

Miller said the voter list is not sold to businesses.

He points out that the state statute doesn't require a standardized form and only says what the form must include. He doesn't agree with Cook that a problem exists.

"If the essential information is there, I'm not seeing that it has to be standardized," he says.

Cook said her office seeks uniformity.

"I'm providing them the information and giving the form that will comply with the law," she said. "I think they're duty-bound to follow that. Many don't have to use the same form. If they're starting to add things that are outside the law, we would certainly want to visit with them on that."

Miller said the Cape Girardeau County forms will be corrected to inform voters that certain information is voluntary.

"We'll make it right," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.