Candidates for the December 18 General Election will officially throw their hats into the ring today when Nomination Day is held.

Candidates for the Progressive Labour Party and United Bermuda Party have already been announced, but by 1 p.m. the independent candidates will also make their presence known.

Anyone tempted to run should remember there is a $250 fee, to be paid to the Accountant General.

Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott says all 36 polling stations will be open to accept nominations between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

An official receipt of your registration fee must be presented with the nomination paper to the Returning Officer as proof of the deposit to the Accountant General.

Nomination papers are available from the Parliamentary Registry Office and must be signed and delivered in duplicate to the Returning Officer, either by the candidate or by his/her Proposer or Seconder at the Polling Station. The candidate cannot be nominated in any other constituency.

Independent candidates who have so far expressed interest in running in the General Election are: "Son of the Soil" Harold Darrell in Pembroke Central; Roger Russell in Pembroke West Central; and Kingsley Francis, father of PLP MP Patrice Minors, St. George's South.

For more information visit www.elections.gov.bm