The number of voters sitting on the fence has shot up as the public awaits the result of the Progressive Labour Party's leadership battle, according to a new poll.

Forty percent of people say they don't know how they'd vote if a General Election took place today — nearly double the number who were undecided in the previous poll in July.

The PLP maintains a lead over the United Bermuda Party but both have slipped in the ratings, the PLP from 34 to 27 percent and the UBP from 25 to 20 percent. The Bermuda Democratic Alliance goes from 14 to 13 percent.

A breakdown on race shows 52 percent of blacks would vote PLP, compared with ten percent for the UBP and two percent for the BDA.

Among whites, 40 percent would vote UBP, 23 percent BDA and one percent PLP. In the survey three months ago, not a single white person had said they would vote for the PLP.

Twenty-two percent of people said they approved of the PLP's performance since the 2007 election, compared with 25 percent in the last poll. Forty-two percent of people disapproved, up from 36 percent.

Eleven percent of people approved of the UBP's performance, down from 21 percent; 48 percent disapproved of the UBP, compared with 46 percent last time.

Seven percent approved of the BDA's performance since its inception last November, down from 11 percent. Forty percent disapproved of the Alliance, compared with 41 percent last time.

Ninety-five percent of people said they would be very likely or certain to vote at an election, up from 89 percent.

A UBP spokesman said yesterday: "The poll results are a disturbing reflection of Bermuda today. The decline in support for all three parties reflects a crisis of confidence in the political establishment to solve the challenges before us.

"This starts with the dismal performance of the PLP Government, whose misguided policies and bad habits have weakened Bermuda and aggravated the impact of recession on working Bermudians. The reality is that politicians must do a better job articulating solutions that win the confidence of people, and that includes us."

The spokesman said the UBP has put forward ideas to reduce gun violence, stop "reckless Government spending", rescue tourism, get education reform on track and restore trust in Government through democratising reforms.

"We think our ideas are right for Bermuda and we will continue to take them to the people," he said. "Our mission as a party is to get this Island working again. We believe in Bermuda. We believe in the people and the future we can build together.

"But to get there, more people need to be open to supporting the best ideas no matter who puts them forward."

BDA chairman Michael Fahy said: "We are encouraged that we have maintained our support and that there is so much more to go for.

"There is a very large element of voters who don't know who to support. The fact that 40 percent don't know means that voters are opening up to the possibility of real change. We believe that the BDA can convince the people of Bermuda that there is another choice.

"We have much to prove but are up for the challenge. We have spoken to so many people who see the BDA as the future. These polls will make us work even harder to convince the people of Bermuda that BDA is the right choice."

The PLP did not reply to requests for a comment.

The telephone poll of 400 people by Mindmaps was conducted between Tuesday, September 28, and Monday, October 4. It has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.