registered still lags behind last year's record 34,054.

A total of 32,105 had been registered by yesterday -- about 450 of whom were registered in the last two weeks -- and the Registrar General's office said it would continue to accept forms until at least the end of the month and perhaps a few days longer.

The final list of registered voters must be published before June 16.

"The figures are way down,'' Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade complained.

He said the Progressive Labour Party had been working hard to add names to the register "but there are still a lot of people who aren't on yet.'' Mr. Wade said it was clearer than ever that the system of annual parliamentary registration must end, and urged Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon.

Irving Pearman to change the system as quickly as possible.

"I'm tired of going through this,'' Mr. Wade said. "This year in particular, people aren't interested, partly because they are fed up with having to do this every year.'' In the past, Mr. Wade has accused Government of using annual registration -- generally believed to be favourable to the United Bermuda Party -- to its own advantage.

But Mr. Pearman has said Government is working to get voters registered with advertisements and scrutineers working in the field.

He said he would consider abolishing annual registration, a promise he made when he was last Home Affairs Minister, but said issues like immigration and industrial relations had higher priority.

In 1989, during a previous stint as Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Pearman announced that legislation was being prepared to create a system requiring registration every five years.

Mr. Wade urged Mr. Pearman to fulfil his promise and make change in priority.

"If you are really interested in democracy you want to get as many people as possible registered,'' he said.