The Government remains fully committed to delivering comprehensive electoral reform, including the introduction of absentee voting, as promised to the people of Bermuda.
Any reform of this importance must be shaped by the people’s voices and guided by a thorough public consultation process, as outlined in the Throne Speech, which set the stage “for the commencement of a fulsome consultative process.”
Electoral reform is a cornerstone of our democracy’s evolution, and it will not be approached lightly or behind closed doors.
In contrast, the Opposition’s recent decision to table an “Absentee Voting Act 2025” without prior public consultation or a clear implementation plan is disappointing. Such a unilateral move, introduced with scant detail and no stakeholder input, risks imposing changes on Bermudians rather than working with them.
Something as critical as modernising our voting system should never be reduced to partisan point-scoring or rushed legislation. Electoral reform is simply too significant to be treated as a political football.
As the ministry responsible for electoral reform, we will continue moving forward with a transparent, adequately funded, and well-planned process to implement absentee voting by the next General Election.
Preparatory work is already underway, with targeted research and data collection efforts commencing this year to support the drafting of legislation. The aim is to have the necessary framework in place by September 2026. In the coming months, we will assemble consultative committees to ensure Bermudians’ input is at the heart of this initiative. The Government remains committed to an electoral reform process built with Bermudians and for Bermudians, one that strengthens our democracy and maintains public trust.
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