Work to bring absentee voting to Bermuda, a topic of contention for decades, is to start soon, with the goal of establishing a framework by autumn 2026, the House of Assembly heard.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, told MPs during the Budget debate that while funding had not been included in the Budget Book, the Parliamentary Registrar would soon begin research on the potential introduction of alternative voting, including absentee voting.

“Targeted data collection efforts are scheduled to begin this year to support the drafting of legislation,” Mr Rabain said.

“The aim is to have the necessary legislative framework for absentee voting ready by September 2026.

“Despite the absence of dedicated funding at this stage, preparatory work will continue to ensure Bermuda's position to modernise its voting system ahead of the next General Election.”

Mr Rabain added that he would be making further statements on the subject and committees would be put together in the “very near future”.

It came after Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, Culture and Transport, called for an update on absentee voting in a statement released on Monday.

Mr Robinson said: “This is an issue that has gained wide-ranging support, especially among our university students who have felt disenfranchised in the political realm.

“Enacting absentee balloting could bring the change needed that could make steps towards re-engaging Bermudians who are keenly invested in this electoral reform.

“We would also demonstrate to the Bermudian public that their political leaders on both sides of the floor can come together to pass legislation that is in the public’s interest.”

During the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Rabain also said that $900,000 had been allocated for the restoration of Sessions House.

He said that while the Supreme Court was expected to vacate Sessions House soon, substantive works to renovate the building were still in the pipeline.

“The House and Grounds Committee has been informed that the Supreme Court is expected to have fully vacated the Sessions House early in fiscal 2025-26, after which time the Ministry of Public Works will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the interior state of the building,” Mr Rabain said.

“This will take some time. The committee is advised that the substantive capital works on the second phase of extensive internal renovations of the building are still some ways off.

“Members and the staff remain very anxious to see this work progress.”

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said the Human Rights Commission had been budgeted $1.434 million, an increase of about 4 per cent.

Ms Furbert highlighted upcoming work by the body to move forward with plans to bolster measures to address discrimination on the grounds of disabilities.

“The commission affirms that in Bermuda there are already commitments and obligations in place at the national level, which should result in those with disabilities being able to fully participate in society free from discrimination,” she said.

“Despite existing obligations and statutory requirements, this is not the reality for those with disabilities.”

Ms Furbert said that the commission took part in consultation with both the Government of Bermuda and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to bring the international obligations into effect.

She said disability was one of the most frequently identified grounds of discrimination, with complaints about denial of work and services, discriminatory employment practices and developments going ahead without consideration for accessibility.

Ms Furbert said that public consultation work had been carried out with a survey and focus groups.

She told the House that a report would be shared with the Government and made available to the public this fiscal year.

David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, told the House that the Office of the Auditor-General had been allocated $4.397 million.

While Mr Burt said the office did receive a 5 per cent budget increase, he acknowledged that the office had received less than the $4.4 million that had been requested.

“Just as we discussed last year during this, it is important that we are not allocating resources that may not be used,” he said.

Mr Burt added that $4.18 million had been allocated for the Auditor-General’s office in the last Budget — but difficulty maintaining staffing had resulted in the actual spending coming in at about $400,000 under.

He said the staffing challenges related to a broader shortage of professional accountants, driving an “extremely competitive market” locally and worldwide.

Mr Burt said that if the OAG required additional funding to meet its obligations, the Government would ensure it was available.

He added: “At no point in time has there been a request, in my memory, at least the time that I've served in this office, that we have not given the resources to the Office of the Auditor-General which she needs.”

Mr Burt said that “we maintain a cordial relationship to make sure that we provide that funding and support”.