Government Monday said it remains open to holding discussions with the opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) on the Absentee Voting Act 2025 after the legislation failed to meet the requirements necessary for it to proceed under the Standing Orders of the House of Assembly.
Shadow Minister of Tourism, Culture and Transport, Dwayne Robinson, said that the OBA had expected to debate its Absentee Voting Act in parliament last Friday. However, the party was informed on that day that the proposed legislation would not be allowed to go ahead because, if approved, its provisions would require money to be spent by the Parliamentary Registrar.
‘While we are disappointed that the Absentee Voting Act 2025 will be removed from the order paper for good, the OBA is proud to have put this important issue on the public agenda. The Government was given an opportunity to collaborate on the OBA’s Bill, but instead chose political mischief,’ Robinson added.
But in a statement, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Diallo V. Rabain, said the government had reached out to the opposition ‘in writing and offered to sit down and discuss the bill’ being piloted by the OBA prior to it being presented to Parliament.
‘From the outset, we said clearly that we support absentee voting for students studying off-island. At the same time, we were equally clear that the Bill, as submitted, was not workable and could not be fixed through amendments on the floor of the House.’
‘Unfortunately, the OBA chose not to sit down and discuss the Bill and instead decided to press ahead with it,’ Rabain said, adding ‘the Bill was ultimately found not to meet the requirements necessary for it to proceed under the Standing Orders of the House of Assembly.
‘That outcome did not change our position. The Government has already committed, in our election manifesto, to introducing absentee voting for students as part of a wider programme of electoral reform. That reform must, and will, include input from the people of Bermuda.
‘The door remains open for the OBA to take part in that work. Electoral reform, including absentee voting, is not something that should be done by one party acting alone. It requires bipartisan engagement and serious policy development if we are going to change how our elections are governed.’
Rabain said the government will continue to move forward in the right order ‘listening to the public, engaging stakeholders, and developing clear policy before bringing legislation to the House. Bermudians will continue to have a voice in that process.
‘Our democracy deserves careful work and good faith, not rushed gestures,’ he added.