Election than in 1989.

The 11-percent hike is largely due to the lowering of the voting age to 18 from 21.

But the Progressive Labour Party said the swelled register was partly due to an "all-out push'' this year and last year to increase voter registration.

Aside from the overall increase, there were major increases in some constituencies at the expense of others, generally reflecting movement from the densely-populated central parishes to the eastern and western ends of the Island.

The two major parties disagreed on how the increased number of voters would affect the election outcome. They also disagreed on how many first-time voters were on the register. The United Bermuda Party said there were about 4,000, while the PLP said there were 2,000 to 3,000.

UBP executive officer Mr. Joe Gibbons said due to the time lapse since the last election, first-time voters were 18 to 24-years-old. It was a fiction to suggest they were mostly students who were off the Island attending school, he said.

"What effect does the new voter have?'' Mr. Gibbons asked. "I think they are faced with the same type of concerns that everybody else is faced with.'' However, "younger voters have different concerns than older voters.

Someone 20 to 24 is not concerned about his or her pension, retirement, or old age benefits. Their priorities are going to be starting a family, starting a career, opportunities for employment, and job security.'' Mr. Gibbons said the many new voters meant canvassing would be more important than ever in deciding the vote. "We have always said that this election is to be won on the doorstep,'' he said.

PLP campaign co-chairman Sen. Alex Scott also talked about the importance of canvassing, but said the increased number of voters was good for the PLP.

A high percentage of UBP supporters tended to turn out each election, while the PLP relied on a larger number of supporters with a lower voting turnout to surpass UBP numbers, he said.

"A Herculean registration effort was made, especially in the marginal constituencies,'' Sen. Scott said.

Some of the largest increases in voters between this year and 1989 were in constituencies considered marginal. The greatest increase -- 31 percent -- was in Hamilton East, which grew by 367 voters. Hamilton West grew by 173 (15.4 percent), Warwick East by 371 (17.8 percent), and St. George's North by 176, or 13.8 percent.

But like Southampton West, which grew by 271 voters or 19.3 percent, those areas saw new housing developments.

The only constituency to shrink was PLP stronghold Devonshire North, which has 79 fewer registered voters this time than last.

According to the Registrar General there are 3,344 more registered voters this year than in 1989.