Bermuda will go to the polls on December 17, Premier Paula Cox announced last night.At the Progressive Labour Party's first election rally at Warwick Workman's Club, Ms Cox urged her supporters to get out the vote and put her party in power for a fourth consecutive term.Monday, December 17th will be “another date with destiny,” the Premier said.The announcement ends months of speculation and kicks off the official start of the election campaign.The standing room only audience of more than 250 supporters burst into applause when the Premier said that she had gone to the “big house” yesterday afternoon to visit the Governor and asked him to dissolve Parliament.A press release last night from Government House stated that Parliament would be dissolved as of 10am this morning.The Opposition One Bermuda Alliance Leader Craig Cannonier welcomed the news and said he was confident the country would vote for change.Ms Cox's announcement capped an evening of speeches by the ruling party's candidates for the Warwick constituencies.She was introduced by former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith who was accompanied on the stage by Alex Scott, her successor. Ms Cox's predecessor, Ewart Brown, is off the Island, the audience was told, but had sent his best wishes.“It's no small thing that we can vote when our grandparents could not,” Dame Jennifer said in her introduction.The Premier began her speech by reminding the audience of the party's first electoral victory on November 9,1998 which she said was a “time of hope, optimism and joy”.“Despite the trying times we are going through, keep your eye on the prize. And keep hope alive.”She said: “Remember: tough times don't last.”Ms Cox added that her administration was aware that there was much work to do and that jobs were the number one priority and that the party would push ahead with its ten-point plan unveiled at its annual conference last month.“This election is about you. You have a stake in this election. And elections are always about choices,” she continued.“You have a choice in this election. Let's move forward together and let's not go backwards and let's not turn back the clock.”She told the media that she chose the date to allow overseas students an opportunity to vote as many would be on the Island for the holidays, and to give the Parliamentary Registrar time to prepare.“What we were seeking to do as we looked at when the election should be held is that they also provided a good amount of time for students to get back home,” she said.“We won't get every student but I think there is a genuine desire to have students participate in the political process.“This is their country and we are running it on loan from them. And they have to be involved.”Students in Canada will be on the Island earlier and those in the US and the UK would be on Island the weekend before December 17, she said.The Premier said she thought the level of registration was “pretty good”.“But we just want to continue to encourage people to register. Even as you are canvassing you still come across people who have moved and need to register,” Ms Cox said.“And my point is always that you must be able to participate. I want you to vote PLP but it's more important that you register. This is your country.”As to concerns that younger voters may not go out and vote, she said: “I haven't found in great numbers that they are not registered. But I know certainly that even up until early this week I was registering some of the young people. But most of the young people are registered but you've got to give them a reason to come out and vote.Asked to elaborate on her comments at the party's annual conference banquet that the party will respond “aggressively” when attacked, Ms Cox said: “It means that we are not going to be sitting ducks for all those who want to besmirch, and impugn people's integrity. We're not going to take that.”But she said the PLP will not fight a dirty campaign. “We're not going to be dirty but we will respond and not be sitting ducks. I am the leader of the team and I have to protect the team.”Mr Cannonier welcomed news of the election call.“The call gives Bermuda finally the opportunity to say what it feels about where it is,” Mr Cannonier said.“That to me is the most important.”Mr Cannonier said the country faced two different visions, “one that wants to continue with the divisive politics of the past and the OBA which wants to move this country forward in a prosperous manner”.He said he was confident the country will vote for change.[naviga:iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yFrRU59A__U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen][/naviga:iframe]“For the OBA, our commitment is to achieve social and economic equity for all Bermudians. My belief is that we should not be leaving anyone behind. We will only prosper and run as swiftly as the slowest horse. And in my estimation there are far too many people that are being left behind and this will mark a new future for Bermuda by ushering in change that will leave no one behind.”St George's West Constituency Two MP Kim Swan, speaking from his home last night, said he was glad that polling day has been announced. “I think most Bermudians are very relieved to now know there is a date for the election. It will be the second time in a row that it has been near Christmas, but there has been great anticipation for some time.“Many persons I have been talking to have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for the day to be announced.”Now that the campaign is formally underway, he said” “It's seeing the constituents and preparing for that date one day at a time.”At least 78 candidates will be vying for 36 seats in the House of Assembly. Thirty four of the declared candidates will have never contested a general election before.A press release from Government House last night said Parliament will be dissolved from 10am this morning.