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FUESDAY, MAY 7, 1985
AS REGARDS THE BREAKDOWN OF REGISTRATION FIGURES, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE KEENEST INTEREST IN THE EXERCISE. THAT THE FIGURE IS NOT 100 PER CENT IS ONLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT SOME MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF TOWN AND WILL HAVE TO SIGN UP LATER DURING THE PERIOD FOR LATE REGISTRATION.
AMONGST THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, TEACHERS, ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SURVEYORS AND TOWN PLANNERS HAVE RESPONDED BETTER THAN OTHERS IN THE + INDIVIDUAL+ CATEGORIES. THE LARGEST NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED ARE TEACHERS, A TOTAL OF 24 745 HAVE SENT IN THEIR FORMS.
HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE, THE FINANCIAL, SOCIAL SERVICE AND LABOUR SECTORS HAVE RESPONDED QUITE WELL, WITH PERCENTAGES OF 82 PER CENT, 80 PER CENT AND 75 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THE INITIAL +BASE FIGURES+ WE USED FOR EARLIER REPORTS WERE NO MORE THAN ESTIMATED MEMBERSHIP OF THE VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS. NOW THAT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION HAS OBTAINED THE MEMBERSHIP LISTS OF ALL ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED, IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO ARRIVE AT A MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF THE SIZE OF EACH OF THE CONSTITUENCIES. AT THE SAME TIME ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT +CROSS MEMBERSHIPS+, SINCE A VOTER ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN MORE THAN ONE CONSTITUENCY MAY ONLY VOTE IN ONE CONSTITUENCY HE HAS TO CHOOSE IN WHICH CONSTITUENCY TO CAST HIS VOTE. IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT TRUE BASE FIGURES, DOUBLE COUNTING HAS HAD TO BE ELIMINATED. CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENCE OF EXPATRIATE MEMBERS IN SOME OF THE PROFESSIONS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO REGISTER BECAUSE OF THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT LAID DOWN IN THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION.
I STARTED BY SAYING THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF REGISTRATION ENDED YESTERDAY. ANYONE (AND I STRESS ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER BETWEEN JUNE 21 AND JULY 1.
MAY NOW GO THROUGH THE FIGURES WITH YOU.
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