West End residents shared their concerns about the introduction of absentee voting at a town hall meeting on the subject of Election Reform last night.

The event at the West End Boat Club was the last of a series of public consultations organised to get feedback on how Bermuda’s voting system can be made easier, fairer, and more accessible for Bermudians.

Shomari Talbot-Woolridge, who led the meeting in the absence of Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said the reform was intended to look at areas including absentee voting and rules for campaign financing.

He said that figures from the last General Election showed that 3,148 voters took part in advanced voting, while another 188 benefited from assisted voting, highlighting the need for better access to voting.

Mr Talbot-Woolridge said that Bermudian students overseas were the initial focus for absentee voting but since consultation began last year other categories had been raised such as government workers sent to work at Bermuda’s London or DC office.

He said: “We are not saying we are opening up to anyone and everyone. It’s people who would have otherwise been in Bermuda but for work secondments or health issues.”

However, some attendees shared concerns about “opening the floodgates” and allowing those who do not live on the island to determine its future.

One attendee noted the island’s shrinking population and growing number of Bermudians leaving the island.

He said: “We need to be careful we are not making changes that put us, as Bermudians that choose to live and work here, at a disadvantage to someone who decided that they are never coming back.”

Concerns about vote tampering were also raised but Mr Talbot-Wooldridge stressed that absentee voting would not be done by “mail-in” and that technological solutions were being considered.

One attendee suggested an “easy fix” of establishing fixed elections in the summer, while most overseas students are home, which would allow Bermudians to plan travel with the election in mind.

Mr Talbot-Wooldridge, however, said that such a change would require amendments to the Constitution.

Another attendee suggested that the island should consider allowing Bermudians who are incarcerated to vote.

She said: “They are not allowed to vote and I think that’s something we should look at.

“They are not subhuman. I think we really need to consider that.”

Attendees also raised questions about the Electoral Roll, suggesting that the 55 per cent turnout at the last election was lower that it would have been if voters who left the island had been removed.

Another attendee commented that Mr Rabain’s September 2026 goal was unrealistic and suggested that the Government should focus on the immediate issue of absentee voting for students before expanding to other categories.

Mr Talbot-Woolridge said that the September deadline was achievable because a lot of work had already been done, particularly on the topic of absentee voting.

He said that once the consultation was complete, a working group would be formed to consider the feedback received, with the body expected to put forward its recommendations in April.