The One Bermuda Alliance has shot down a call by the Government to withdraw its legislation intended to introduce absentee voting in Bermuda.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said he had written the OBA to request the withdrawal in favour of collaboration on comprehensive electoral reform intended to be in place by September 2026.

However, Robert King, the Opposition Leader, said: “The One Bermuda Alliance tabled the Absentee Voting Bill 2025 on September 26, and we’ve heard nothing from the Government until now.

“Is it because the public has been supporting us?”

The lack of an option for student voters abroad and travellers has surfaced as a topic of protest ahead of the past two general elections with both parties pledging action on the issue.

The legislation was brought to the House of Assembly in September by Dwayne Robinson, who told legislators progress was being delayed and that the Opposition was living up to “one of its key election promises”.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Rabain said he had written to Mr King and requested the Bill be withdrawn to allow collaborative work on bipartisan legislation.

Mr Rabain said: “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.

“This means working closely with the Parliamentary Registrar, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the public to ensure the process is both inclusive and secure.”

A ministry spokeswoman said “legal and operational concerns” in the Opposition’s proposal had been flagged up by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

They were said to include potential conflicts with existing election law, and the absence of administrative procedures that would ensure proper implementation.

Mr Rabain added that the Parliamentary Registrar had not been “adequately consulted before the Opposition’s Bill was tabled” and introducing absentee voting was “not something that can be rushed”.

The Government engaged earlier with the Parliamentary Registrar and, more recently, with “young Bermudians studying overseas”, the spokeswoman said.

Broader consultations with the public and political figures are set for “the coming weeks”, with Mr Rabain confirming that broader electoral reform with absentee voting would be in place by September 2026.

Other reforms planned were said to be transparent standards for political parties and campaign financing; keeping the voters’ roll up to date, private and transparent; modernising electoral technology; and “consistent and fair rules for polling day administration”.

Mr Rabain said the goal was to foster “participation and trust”.

He added: “Every political party in Bermuda agrees that absentee voting for our young people studying overseas must happen. We have an opportunity to combine our collective expertise and deliver a system that works for everyone.”

Mr King responded that the OBA had no intention of withdrawing the Bill, adding: “They only reached out as a response to us tabling the Absentee Voting Bill. Otherwise there would not even be this public conversation.”

He said the Government had not shared any specific concerns about the legislation raised by the Attorney-General, but the OBA would welcome any amendments from the Government to adjust the Bill as necessary.

Mr King also claimed that the Government’s assertion that the legislation lacked the administrative procedures to ensure proper implementation was “misleading”.

He said: “The Bill purposefully delegates the formulation of those procedures and regulations to the Minister and the Parliamentary Registrar as is normal for many Bills passed by Government.”

Mr King added there was ample time for the Registrar and the minister to work out technical details and denied any suggestion that the Bill was moving too fast.

He said: “This is hardly rushed. Absentee voting was promised by the OBA prior to February's election, the PLP then followed suit.

“That was nine months ago. The Government has also had sight of this Bill for a month and a half.”