THE April 28 general election is up for grabs with organisation and election-day machinery being one of the keys to victory.

The outcome of the election could be determined by the results in nine marginal constituencies.

The election could either be won by the PNM or the UNC.

Both parties are banking heavily on young voters to secure victory at the polls.

These were some of the latest findings of a North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) tracking survey that was released on April 26.

"Current polling is clear that this election is still up for grabs by either side (PNM or UNC). Election-day organisation and machinery will determine the winner in the marginals and by extension the general election."

Of the 41 constituencies being contested, NACTA identified nine of them as key to determining the election winner.

All nine are marginal constituencies.

The PNM and UNC must either retain or capture these constituencies to win.

The PNM holds Tobago East, San Fernando West, St Joseph, Tunapuna, La Horquetta/Talparo and Toco/Sangre Grande.

NACTA said PNM Toco/Sangre Grande candidate Roger Monroe is holding off a strong challenge from UNC opponent Wayne Sturge in that constituency.

The PNM, NACTA continued, is also staving off strong challenges from the UNC in other constituencies it currently holds.

The UNC is on the back foot in three marginals which it holds- Moruga/Tableland, Chaguanas East and Barataria/San Juan.

"All three are very close that can go either way with PNM making voter-inroads."

NACTA said the UNC-held Cumuto/Manzanilla, Mayaro and Claxton Bay constituencies do not appear under serious threat of falling to the PNM.

The same applies to the Arouca/Lopinot constituency now held by the PNM.

But NACTA added, "All four are interesting contests."

NACTA said its survey showed their is a small swing against the PNM and the UNC in constituencies which each of them currently hold.

But it is unclear if these gains are enough for either party to pick up constituencies which they do not currently have.

NACTA hinted there is the possibility of one constituency in the East-West corridor to change hands.

That constituency was not named.

NACTA said, "The partisan or aligned voters unhesitatingly and enthusiastically stated who they are voting for, but many voters are silent, reluctant to reveal party preference or undecided and some are swing voters. Their vote holds the clue of a winner in a closely fought seat and by extension the general election."

One month ago, NACTA continued, the prospect of a closely fought election would have been a pipe dream with the PNM way ahead in the race.

NACTA said momentum created by the UNC's selection of new credible candidates in key marginal constituencies created one of the most astonishing poll turnarounds in the country.

"The UNC had trailed the PNM for years, and all of a sudden the UNC has overtaken PNM in popular support."

But NACTA added increases in popular support are irrelevant because the only thing that matt