The City of Hamilton heads to the polls today to vote in three new common councillors.

But today's by-election — in which less than 450 voters will be able to cast a ballot — could be one of the last for the municipality in its present form.

Government pledged in this year's Throne Speech to change the 85-year-old law governing both the Corporation of Hamilton and the Corporation of St. George's, arguing that it no longer reflected modern good governance.

An amended Municipalities Act could be tabled in the House this year, dramatically altering the nature of the organisation which runs the capital.

Some think the changes may be in place before next year's City Hall general election, when all nine seats on the Corporation — including the Mayor's — will be up for grabs.

And recent turbulent events at the publicly funded Corporation — from ongoing internal rows to the attempted eviction of Bermuda Society of Arts from City Hall — are likely to have given Government further fuel to justify shaking up the municipality.

Six people — Diane Gordon, Charles Gosling, John Harvey, Anne Kast, Graeme Outerbridge and Glen Smith — are running in today's by-election for the three seats.

But whether their election pledges will inspire voters to the ballot box between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. remains to be seen. When Pamela Ferreira — who became an alderman last week — defeated David Sullivan to become common councillor last October, just 246 votes were cast in what was reported as a record-breaking turnout.

Many people who are eligible to vote simply don't bother to register and there have been persistent calls for the franchise to be extended so it is not so weighted in favour of rich property owners.

Former Deputy Mayor Sonia Grant wrote to a British inquiry into the overseas territories earlier this year describing the October 2006 Corporation election as "an absolute disgrace" and arguing that the franchise was not based on universal adult suffrage.

The Corporation's own legislative committee is reviewing how the Municipalities Act could be amended and is hoping to pass its recommendations to Government later this summer.

The organisation holds its meetings behind closed doors and is often perceived as an old boys' club with little relevance to the wider community.

Yet those elected have control of a $21 million annual budget raised through taxes, wharfage charges and parking fees, and the power to shape the future of the capital.

See News for more on the Corporation election