announced yesterday.

Parliamentary Registrar Lionel Dowling believes a public relations blitz launched in May was a major factor in the increase, which brings the number of registered voters to 36,567.

Mr. Dowling said that while he was pleased with the increase, he still suspects there are around 4,000 or more people eligible to vote who have not registered.

Mr. Dowling said he believed up to 800 new voters had registered since 1999 because the electoral roll falls every year due to deaths.

Devonshire North was the constituency with the biggest gain, with 59 more people joining the roll. St. George's South gained 53 and Warwick West 51.

Pembroke East Central lost three voters, Pembroke West four, and Warwick East three, Southampton West broke even with 1,722 registered voters. Four temporary registration offices were opened on weekends in St. George's, Smith's, Warwick and Sandys in May to encourage people to register.

Mr. Dowling said: "The results of the census exercise that is currently taking place will give me a better indication as to the number of Bermudians who are 18 and older. From that I will be able to see clearly the number of people who should be on the register.''