The United Bermuda Party has denied it is trying to turf people off the electoral register but said it is doing its job by making sure people don't vote in areas they no longer live.

It follows claims by the Premier's Press secretary Glenn Jones that the Opposition was behind all the names on a list of objections published by the Parliamentary Registrar this week.

Those named have two weeks to say where they are living before the Parliamentary Registrar investigates and either removes their name or alters where their vote is registered.

Yesterday UBP leader Michael Dunkley said his party was doing its job in unearthing discrepancies and reporting them for investigation.

He said in Warwick North Central UBP candidate Wayne Scott had unearthed a case of ten people still registered to vote at a derelict home. That seat will be a key election battleground in what could be a very tight election.

In 2003 the PLP won 22 seats to the UBP's 14 but if 80 people in five key seats had voted differently the UBP would have won power. But Mr. Jones said the UBP had been suspiciously active in objecting to voters.

He said: "According to the people I have spoken to, the Opposition, as they are allowed to do, submitted a list of voters they object to. It was abnormal to me because I was told this list was far larger than one that's ever been filed before."

"Last time it was about ten people, this time it is about 290.

"It raises suspicions because the typical motive for someone who files a name is to have them removed from the voters' list. You have to assume that is their intention here.

"I am not accusing them of anything. I am suspicious, is all."

Mr. Jones claimed the entire list published by the Parliamentary Registrar had been provided by the UBP although other sources said the PLP had also provided some names but Mr. Jones said he was unaware of it.

Mr. Dunkley said he didn't know if most of the names had been provided by the UBP. "I haven't looked at that. But if that is the case that just goes to show that the PLP haven't been carrying out their responsibility with the parliamentary registry.

"The over-riding point is that on election day we need to have a register which is exactly accurate. That way democracy will prevail."

Otherwise abuse could creep in, either intentionally or unintentionally argued Mr. Dunkley.

He said the Parliamentary Registrar had a difficult job and since the abolition of annual registration and the move to require people to re-register only when they move, many people did not inform the Registrar of their change of address.

"We have made a concerted effort within the United Bermuda Party to do our best to inform the Parliamentary Registry of changes which are needed to keep constituencies as accurate as possible. That's our responsibility as a political party.

"I would assume the PLP has done the same thing and has made submissions to the Registry which have been incorporated in that list.

"I don't hear the Parliamentary Registry complaining in any way about what is happening in his communications on a regular basis with the UBP. So I assume he supports our efforts to help him conduct his job to the best of his ability."

He said the UBP were not trying to bar people from voting only to help prevent people from voting in the wrong seat. "There is no way I, as Opposition leader, would try to stop people from their democratic right.

"We are actually trying to help them get them out to the polls. But the process won't work effectively unless people vote where they live.

"Glenn Jones is saying people should be able to vote (in the same place) even after people have moved out of the constituency months and months ago and haven't taken the time and effort to re-register. That's wrong. I don't agree with him in any way."

Mr. Jones had claimed most of the names had popped up in marginal constituencies. Asked if the UBP were only concentrating on the register in the see-saw seats Mr. Dunkley said the effort was island-wide. If Mr. Jones thinks that is wrong he needs to change the Act. I think he is spin-doctoring for whatever reason."

Progressive Labour Party spokesman Wentworth Christopher said he didn't know if the PLP had formally objected to any voters but he said: "If our people are canvassing and there is a discrepancy they would inform the Registrar.

"No one had told me if they have submitted something on this occasion but historically it is something we would do."

Last night, Parliamentary Registrar Randy Scott issued a statement saying he wanted to take the opportunity to remind residents that it was 'imperative' that if there were any changes in registration particulars to notify the Parliamentary Registry office within 28 days.

Registered voters could be challenged at the polls if they attempted to vote in a constituency they no longer lived in.

Registers can be viewed at the Parliamentary Registry office, all Post Offices, Police stations, the Bermuda library and online at www.elections.gov.bm.