capital punishment, says Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman.

That means Bermudians will never know how feelings on Independence differed from one constituency to another.

Voters would cast their ballots for or against Independence in their own constituencies, just as they did in general elections, Mr. Pearman said. But all the ballots would be pooled before they were counted, just as they were in the capital punishment referendum, he said.

Unlike a General Election, in which MPs were elected by constituency, Government sought "a national result'' in the referendum, Mr. Pearman said.

Government's decision to pool the capital punishment votes before counting them came under heavy criticism in 1990. MPs like former Independent Mr. Harry Viera said they would have liked to know how their constituents felt on the issue.

Only 32.6 percent of the Island's eligible voters turned out for the capital punishment referendum, meaning the count was completed earlier than it might be this year.

Of those who did vote, 78.4 percent voted in favour of retaining the death penalty.

In the referendum expected this July, a simple majority of votes cast in favour of Independence would not be enough to give Government a mandate. At least 40 percent of all eligible voters -- regardless of how many of them cast ballots -- would have to vote yes for the question to be answered affirmatively.

The Senate debates the Independence Referendum Act tomorrow.

Mr. Pearman said a July date was still expected for the referendum, but he could not be more specific.

Bermudian voters normally go to the polls on Tuesdays or Thursdays. If a Tuesday polling date was chosen, as it was in 1990, July 4, July 11, July 18, and July 25 would all be possible dates.

Independence opponents would be unhappy if July 4 -- United States Independence Day -- was chosen. Celebrations of the 375th anniversary of Bermuda's Parliament are planned for July 14 and 15.

If a Thursday was chosen, July 6, July 13, and July 20 are all possible. The Cup Match Holiday, which is wrongly reported in the telephone book as July 27 and 28, is actually set for August 3 and 4. But due to the confusion created by the phone book error, Government is unlikely to set the referendum for July 27.