Opposition MP Dwayne Robinson and Minister Diallo Rabain issued statements on the Absentee Voting Bill.
Opposition MP Dwayne Robinson statement:
“While we are disappointed that the Absentee Voting Bill will be removed from the order paper for good, the One Bermuda Alliance is proud to have put this important issue on the public agenda,” says Opposition MP Dwayne Robinson.
“The Government was given an opportunity to collaborate on the OBA’s bill, but instead chose political mischief. We left the Bill on the order paper for two months in an effort to collaborate and there was time for amendments to be put forward, yet nothing was presented.
“Instead, we now learn that the Bill cannot be progressed because in order to action it, monies will have to be spent by the Parliamentary Registrar. Despite it being on the order paper uncontested for two months, as soon as we choose to go for a second reading, this letter appears.”
He continues: “We have no wish to question the independent office of the PR, however its budget is provided by the sitting Government.
“As the reason is budgetary this reflects on the Minister of the Cabinet office and the Premier who is the Minister of Finance. Minister Rabain allocated $55,000 via supplementary spending to electoral reform during the last session, making the point quite redundant.”
He concludes: “If the Government was serious about electoral reform, it would have funded it after the February 2025 election.”
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation Diallo Rabain statement:
Minister Rabain said, “Since the tabling of the OBA’s Absentee Voting Act 2025, the Government reached out to the Opposition in writing and offered to sit and discuss the Bill. 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.
“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.
“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.”
