The Parliamentary Registrar said he was disappointed that his office was being drawn into political point scoring yesterday.

Randy Scott spoke after the Progressive Labour Party released a list of voters who Opposition leader Michael Dunkley had challenged.

In the statement they accused Mr. Dunkley of trying to "disenfranchise 84 voters in Smith's North" where he is running against Patrice Minors.

Meanwhile Mr. Dunkley said the "PLP has violated the integrity and spirit of a two-party process designed to ensure Bermuda goes to the polls with the most accurate voters lists". And added that if the PLP were so concerned about disenfranchising voters they should have passed absentee voting.

Yesterday Mr. Scott said he did not appreciate that the Parliamentary Registry Office was being treated like a "political football" and added that all of the voters who had been challenged were still registered to vote.

He explained that both parties, and members of the public, were allowed to challenge people if they had moved to another constituency, moved abroad, died or left the country.

Mr. Scott's office then investigates and provides the list to both parties to scrutinise and flag up any irregularities.

After this bipartisan exercise, Mr. Scott gets the final word.

He reiterated that after both parties had their say he decided not take anyone off the voter registration list.

Mr. Scott added that both the UBP and PLP had challenged voters who were in prison.

In a press release from the PLP yesterday, party Chairman David Burt said: "In a desperate attempt to defeat Patrice Minors, Michael Dunkley submitted a formal request to the Parliamentary Registrar to disenfranchise 84 voters in Smith's North.

"In addition to residency changes, one of the official 'reasons for objection' to the eligibility of three voters was 'registered to vote against Mr. Dunkley'.

"In addition, many more voters that Mr. Dunkley tried to disenfranchise have been living in Smith's North for years and should be eligible to vote."

He added that while the PLP had challenged only 40 voters the UBP had challenged approximately 500, most within key marginal voting areas they were focusing their attention on.

Patrice Minors who is also running in Smith's North said: "It's unconscionable that Mr. Dunkley submitted the reason, 'Registered to Vote Against Mr. Dunkley' as grounds for disenfranchisement.

"I can assure all the voters of Smith's North that I will do everything in my power to protect their sacred right to vote."

The list that was provided to The Royal Gazette by the PLP chairman showed that the reason for the objection for three voters challenged was "Does not live here — registered against Mr. Dunkley".

Last night Mr. Dunkley said: "We think it is important people understand the PLP has violated the integrity and spirit of a two-party process designed to ensure Bermuda goes to the polls with the most accurate voters lists.

"That they would do so is an unprecedented act, an example of dirty tricks politics by a party lagging in the polls."

Mr. Dunkley added: "The PLP are talking about disenfranchising voters, if they were so concerned about that why did they reject the UBP attempt to bring absentee ballots to the Island?

"And why did they call the election during a period when many North American universities will be holding their exams."

Mr. Burt replied to Mr. Dunkley's comment and said: "To imply dirty tricks is ironic, as this behaviour exhibited by the UBP, trying to disenfranchise our citizens just for political gain, is the epitome of dirty tricks.

"In the UBP's own statement, they have admitted to marking these names because they are 'registered to vote against Mr. Dunkley'."