Parliamentary Registrar Lionel Dowling is hoping to boost the registered number of people eligible to vote by June.

According to the latest figures compiled before the recent Pembroke West by-election, there are 36,755 names (93.8 percent) on the register.

Latest census information reveal that the total voting population could be as high as 39,153 - which means just more than 2,000 people need to be registered to get to 100 percent registration.

But Mr. Dowling is aiming, at a minimum, to register 440 - to reach a target of 95 percent registration when the new Parliamentary Register is published in June.

He said it is important that the public register be up to date especially given the fact that a general election "of great importance to the public and the political structure" is due in November 2003

"There will be the usual concentrated registration drive during April and May of this year, and we hope to register more than the 440 additional voters that are needed to reach the department's minimum goal of 95 percent registration," Mr. Dowling said.

"Before schools close for the summer, we hope to visit those that may have some 18 year olds attending or soon to be 18 year olds."

He said a 93.87 percent rate is no mean achievement for any country. "I am sure we are the envy of many countries the world over. However, I do feel that due to the density of our population and our reasonably high literacy level, we should be able to comfortably reach and surpass our goal of 95 percent," he said.

"The Parliamentary Registration Office is centrally located, and I do suspect that the average Bermudian must pass us by at least several times a month. So I hope they will drop in to see us. It only takes a minute or two to register or to change one's address."