The candidates vying to become Hamilton?s new Mayor today have urged voters not to waste their democratic right.

Both Sonia Grant and Sutherland Madeiros expressed concern that just 231 people voted in the last election in April. With the Mayor in charge of a $20 million annual budget, this worked out at more than $86,500 per vote.

At the time of that election, which put Jay Bluck at the helm, only 387 people were on City Hall?s list of registered voters. Mr. Bluck estimated this was only 50 percent of those eligible.

According to Returning Officer John Cooper, that figure has now risen to 460 after a registration drive in recent months.

Issuing a plea last night for all to turn out, Miss Grant, who will become the city?s first female Mayor if she wins, said she was confident more people would do so this time.

?Some of the people who didn?t turn out last time that I have spoken to said they will be coming,? she explained.

And in a direct message to those who will decide her fate, she said: ?Bring your ID and vote. I will make decisions in the best interests of the Corporation of Hamilton and not in respect of any one person or institution.?

Miss Grant, a lawyer and former Deputy Mayor, was defeated by Mr. Bluck at the last election by a margin of just 21 votes. It was Mr. Bluck?s death at the age of 65 last month that prompted today?s poll.

Fellow candidate Sutherland Madeiros, 61, who is retired and serves as an alderman, said: ?Those with a democratic right to vote should exercise it.?

He also believes today?s election will see a boosted turnout, and predicted that around 300 people would cast their votes. His message to them was: ?I have the time to dedicate to the job and I?m not afraid to make decisions. Not all of my decisions will be right, but if you don?t make decisions at all, nothing gets done.?

Property owners and occupiers ? both business and residential ? may vote in the Corporation election if properly registered. City Hall is open for voting from 11 a.m until 8 p.m today.