with United Bermuda Party voters set to choose two candidates for the next general election.

A close race is predicted between the three candidates who are separated by few major issue differences.

The candidates, Deputy Premier and Environment Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, 46, the party's other adopted candidate Mr. Elroy Ratteray, 51, and challenger Mr. Jerome Dill, 32, are seeking to represent one of the most diverse constituencies in Bermuda.

At present, the constituency is represented by Mrs. DeCouto and Independent Mr. Stuart Hayward.

The UBP is keen to oust Mr. Hayward and regain the seat he snatched from former Finance Minister Dr. Clarence James in the most stunning upset of the 1989 election.

Yesterday, the party's branch chairman Mr. Colin Young said there are now 749 registered UBP voters in the constituency.

The polling station, at Northlands School on Berkeley Road, will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Voters should bring some form of identification, such as a driver's license, senior citizen's card or passport.

Yesterday Mr. Dill predicted Mrs. DeCouto, now the well-known incumbent, will top today's poll. The real contest, he said, is between himself and Mr.

Ratteray and is likely to be close.

"I think it's going well,'' Mr. Dill said. "At the outset I said what I wanted to do is give people the opportunity to actually speak -- to give them the opportunity to actually choose. Whatever happens, at least that's been accomplished.'' Mr. Ratteray also predicted a close race. "I'm very pleased with the response,'' he said. "I just hope that people who have promised to support me and have signed up, come out and vote. My prediction is that it will be very close. But I feel very confident.'' Mrs. DeCouto said she was upset at a full-page newspaper ad yesterday that criticised the fish pot ban which she, as Environment Minister, imposed in 1990. The ad was unfair, she said, but left no time for a response.

The ad was paid for by fisherman Mr. Danny Farias, who defied the ban and was subsequently convicted. "The timing was right to put it in so she could get a feeling of what it feels like to be stomped on,'' Mr. Farias said yesterday.