The number of business ratepayers who have registered to vote in the looming Corporation of Hamilton election is nearly 10 per cent down on last time.

With more than 1,000 entitled to claim a vote, 383 did so by the cut-off point of April 6 — a reduction from 423 in 2019 when seats on the corporation were last up for contest.

The number of municipal residents in Hamilton registered to take part in the election is 576, virtually the same figure as four years ago, which stood at 591.

In the Town of St George, 47 businesses and 1,317 municipal residents are entitled to cast votes on May 11, compared with 55 business ratepayers and 1,333 residents recorded in 2019.

During the registration drive Hamilton mayor Charles Gosling had called for a show of support from the public and the business sector as the City battles the Government over plans to abolish the corporations.

Mr Gosling said that the fall in voter registration was “unfortunate”.

He told The Royal Gazette: “The drop in business registration, while disappointing, is not completely unexpected.

“The pandemic wreaked havoc on everyone, especially our business and retail communities. This is evidenced by the amount of available commercial space in the City.

“That being said, the low number of registered businesses compared to the number of those eligible to register is unfortunate.

“I am relatively confident that those who have gone through the arduous process of registering will exercise their democratic right on polling day.

“While registration may be closed for the upcoming election, it is important for businesses to know that they can register at any time throughout the year. It has been their right to have their say; let’s hope it remains so.”

City Hall has taken its battle for political survival to the Privy Council in London, but the Government does not expect a ruling until 2025 at the earliest.

As a result of the legal action, Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, got Parliament to limit the term times of corporation members elected next month to two years.

Mr Gosling also said he wanted peace talks with the Government as he rejected claims by Colonel Burch that a “war of attrition” was going on over how the island is run.

Legislation passed by the House of Assembly would end municipal elections, with the Government, instead, appointing mayors and half of the councillors.

The remaining councillors would be picked by the relevant minister on the recommendation of a selection committee.

The City of Hamilton argued that the change was unconstitutional because it would give the Government “overwhelming” control of the municipalities and their properties, which would amount to an illegitimate deprivation of property.

While City Hall has lost its case in the Bermuda courts, the appeal to London is a last-ditch effort to halt the change.

Colonel Burch told MPs last month: “This is obviously a war of attrition. The reality is that we are 21 square miles and we really have two governments.

“We have a municipality who runs the City and controls the main dock and imports into the country, and you have a government that has to ask them for things.”