Several electoral reform measures, including progress on election-day rules, were outlined in the House of Assembly today.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, said the reform is being carried out in consultation with the Parliamentary Registrar and other stakeholders.

Speaking to progress made in the area of voter access and registration to “ensure feasibility”, Mr Rabain said his ministry is collaborating with the registrar to align proposals with the operational requirements of election and voter administration.

“We have also continued discussions with subject matter experts on absentee and electronic overseas voting solutions, focusing on what is secure, verifiable and workable in Bermuda,” he told MPs.

“This is not about adopting technology for its own sake, it is about understanding options, understanding risks and ensuring that any potential model maintains integrity and public trust.”

On election-day processes and administration, Mr Rabain said that discussions would be held with political parties and independent representatives to hear about their experiences in the last election.

He added that gathering their feedback will help to create a detailed “playbook” outlining procedures for polling stations.

The minister said: “Since our elections have shifted from being mainly two-party to include more parties and independents, it’s crucial to set clear rules for election-day activities at polling places.

“Our goal is to ensure that election procedures are consistent and enforced everywhere, regardless of location or the number of candidates.”

Mr Rabain said that the ministry continued to target research and benchmarking on potential campaign finance rules.

He explained: “We want to ensure that political finance rules are consistent with Bermuda’s anti-money-laundering and countering-the-financing-of-terrorism standards.

“This will ensure that our electoral framework is not exposed to illicit funds, including proceeds of crime.

“This includes carefully examining potential gaps, unintended exemptions and practical compliance expectations, so that the rules are clear, proportionate and capable of application.

“We are basing our efforts on established guidance and insights from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as well as election reports from Caricom and the Organisation of American States.

“By monitoring regional elections and their findings, we ensure Bermuda’s reforms reflect practical lessons rather than theoretical or politically motivated changes.”

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Mr Rabain also touched on work on governance and oversight. He said the pillar will equip the Parliamentary Registrar to run elections efficiently.

The House heard: “Discussing updates to the Parliamentary Elections Act is essential for effective electoral reform.

“As we modernise, it is important to provide the registrar with the tools needed to operate properly.”

Mr Rabain said that engagement with residents revealed that community members wanted easier access to ballots and clearer processes.

The minister said that they also raised concerns about verification, election integrity and confidence in outcomes, and were concerned about campaign finances and the “seemingly inconsistent election-day rules” regarding polling stations.

Feedback is being consolidated into key themes and questions, and the analysis will inform potential legal changes, administrative actions for the registrar, necessary verification safeguards, and oversight measures, Mr Rabain said.

Mr Rabain said: “The ministry has drafted the terms of reference for the Electoral Reform Working Group, which is not yet established. Preparations include selecting diverse members to ensure a balanced group with relevant expertise.

“Once formed, the group will promptly evaluate proposals for legality, feasibility, enforceability, operational impact, implementation readiness and public confidence.

“The goal is to form the group by March 30 and complete its work within six to eight weeks.”

The tabling of the legislation will take place in September, he said, adding that public engagement continued.