Anyone hoping to have a vote at October's leadership contest must have joined the Progressive Labour Party by the end of today.

Candidates Paula Cox, Terry Lister and Dale Butler are said to be trying to get their supporters into branches before today's deadline, hoping they will be selected as delegates to vote at the all-important annual conference.

While much talk has surrounded Ms Cox's popularity among delegates, nobody in the party actually knows yet who the delegates will be; in theory, anyone joining the party today can still become a delegate if selected by their branch.

At least two delegates will be put forward by each of Bermuda's 36 constituencies, with each branch able to nominate an extra delegate for every 20 members it has.

One party member yesterday said it's likely some branches will make a decision on how its delegates will vote, but that the individuals will be able to make their own mind up on the night in a secret ballot.

And one delegate from the last leadership challenge said he did just that in 2006, changing his mind and voting for Ewart Brown instead of Alex Scott at the last minute.

Twelve PLP MPs have come out in support of Ms Cox, but party sources yesterday said their influence over the branches would not necessarily be significant, with one member saying "Most MPs don't have a strong relationship with their branches because most don't do much work anyway."

Also today, three PLP constituencies are set to pick their local representatives: in Warwick South Central ahead of the by-election forced by the departure of Premier Ewart Brown; and in St. George's West and St. George's South ahead of the next General Election.

Sources yesterday named former United Bermuda Party MP Jamahl Simmons, Dr. Brown's press secretary, as a contender in St. George's West, against Jhon Gibbons, a former student activist.

Dean Foggo was the unsuccessful PLP candidate in that seat at the last election, narrowly losing to Kim Swan, who now leads the Opposition and is said to be strong in Constituency Two. Anti-violence campaigning Pastor Leroy Bean is said to be the favourite in St. George's South.

Former Attorney General Phil Perinchief, who lost that seat against then-UBP candidate Donte Hunt three years ago, last night said his application appeared to have failed, while sources said an attempted comeback from former Cabinet Minister Arthur Hodgson had suffered the same fate.

Former Hamilton West candidate Charles Clarke has also been mentioned as a possible contender for Constituency Four.

It's understood more than 40 applicants put themselves forward for the Warwick South Central PLP stronghold, which will become vacant when Dr. Brown retires after October's conference.

They've been whittled down to Senators Marc Bean and Kim Wilson, who have both had high profiles recently, and union boss Chris Furbert and entrepreneur Nelson Hunt, who are well-known in Warwick.

The UBP says it has begun its process to find a candidate for Constituency 26, with Warwick-based Senator Jeanne Atherden a possibility, as well as Roderick Simons, who ran unsuccessfully against Dr .Brown in 2007.

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance has said it has not decided whether to field a candidate in the by-election.