How can Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws affect recruiting on job application forms?

i would go with the thoughts of Mr Fahid Rasheed Rana

EEO ensure that recruitment is being done on merit and as per law. Being a fair employer, we do follow this practice. 

1. You can't select / reject any candidates based on gender (if job is not designed for a specfic gender)

2. You can't reject / select any one based on his ethnicity, race, nationality, attire, sect. religion, marital status and sexual perference etc.

If such unfair practice found, any rejected candidates can proceed the legal action against the employer and employer can be charged heavy fine along-with negative impact on its repute. 

Even such discrimination get public, customers of that company can reject the products / services of that company.

Even in current era its core part of SOCIAL compliance as well, as employer you cant survive with such unfair practice. In nutshell its manadtory by law in many countries to follow the EEO laws :)

Thanks

It may attract great employees and talents, to full the important positions inside the company