Corrupt data, including the names of people ineligible to vote, were included in a United Bermuda Party (UBP) list intended to prove that scores of people are incorrectly registered, according to the Parliamentary Registry.

UBP MP Michael Dunkley told this newspaper and the Parliamentary Registrar that the list was compiled from information gathered during door-to-door canvassing in Devonshire East and showed that the registry of voters for the area was inaccurate by over 15 percent.

But the inclusion of people who are not even allowed to vote makes a nonsense of that estimate.

The UBP has been arguing for a wholesale reregistration of voters to improve the accuracy of the list.

And the party contends that abolishing annual voter registration has led to far more people being registered in the wrong place when they move because there is now no annual reminder to register.

Voters are required by law to update their registrations when they move out of a constituency.

Mr. Dunkley had last week submitted to the Parliamentary Registrar an initial list of 137 people who, he said, had moved into the constituency but did not update their listing.

He admitted, when asked, that the list could also include people who had never registered.

After checking the list, the Registry office found that 70 of the new residents were not registered in the first place.

A statement from the Assistant Parliamentary Registrar Kenneth Scott, which released the contents of a letter responding to Mr. Dunkley, added that approximately 50 people could not be verified due to insufficient information.

"A further 14 however, were registered and presumably reside at the address you indicated. I would also like to note that a number of persons you listed are not eligible voters," the letter stated.

"In addition, your calculation used to derive the 16.5 percent (inaccuracy) is also incorrect, as 70 persons including those persons who are not eligible should not have been used in your calculation, since they do not form part of the total constituency voter population. Therefore this office is in no position to help you with that list submitted."

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be Bermudian, ordinarily resident in Bermuda, over 18 years of age and alive. Prisoners and people judged of "unsound mind" are disqualified.

Mr. Dunkley's list had included birth dates for about 96 names. And it was impossible to tell if the people named on the list were eligible to vote.

Mr. Scott also addressed the UBP's call for a reregistration, saying that Deputy Governor had already addressed the matter and had agreed with Parliamentary Registrar Sabrina Phillips that a full scale reregistration was not necessary.

Mr. Scott could not say, when asked, how many non Bermudians were on Mr. Dunkley's list.

He urged Mr. Dunkley to have his party decide on scrutineers who will check the accuracy of the voters' lists according to the law.

"We will continue our efforts to contact individuals whenever it is suggested that their registrations should be amended, however, let me again emphasise the importance of the job of the scrutineers in assisting the Registrar in order to have a complete and accurate register for the upcoming election," the letter concluded.

The Parliamentary Election Act 1978 requires each party to select one scrutineer for each constituency, who will work together to advise the Parliamentary Registrar of any alterations that need to be made to the lists.

The law specifically prohibits public officers or politicians to be scrutineers. Mr. Dunkley could not be reached for comment by presstime last night.