Opposition says they will welcome amendments to their proposed bill, but they won’t reverse course
The One Bermuda Alliance is not backing down on it’s proposed absentee voting legislation, even as Government says it has identified “several legal and operational concerns”.
The Opposition’s Dwayne Robinson, who tabled the bill, told Bermuda Broadcasting they “have no intention of withdrawing the bill, but we are open to collaboration.”
“Our hope is that the government will bring forth amendments to the legislation we put forward, and that we can progress from there.”
OBA Leader Robert King pushed back against the idea that they are moving too fast, saying that the issue was highlighted before February’s election, and insinuating that the PLP only reached out for collaboration after they tabled their bill.
Mr King also said the OBA would welcome amendments to the bill from Government.
Diallo Rabain, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said in a statement that he had formally requested the opposition withdraw their Absentee Voting Bill 2025, tabled in September.
This will allow for collaborative work on a bipartisan bill, he said, and he added that “when we make changes to how Bermudians vote, we must do so in a way that is carefully researched, well-designed, and built to last.”
The Government statement also said the Attorney General had identified potential conflicts with existing election law, and that the Parliamentary Registrar had not been adequately consulted.
However, the OBA’s Dwayne Robinson says “I’m sure that the Parliamentary Registrar is well informed on exactly what it takes, what hurdles to jump when it comes to absentee voting. So we didn’t feel as though it needed to be in more in-depth consultation when the people, the public, have already demanded that this be done…”
OBA Leader Robert King says the Registrar does not need to be consulted on whether Bermudians overseas want to be able to vote in elections, and says “there will be time in the future for the Registrar and the Minister to work out technical details.”
Mr King affirmed, “there is no intention for the OBA to withdraw this Bill.”
