Minister Fahy On Election & Voting Reform
The Ministry of Home Affairs is in the final stages of establishing an ad hoc Governance Committee, Minister of Home Affairs Michael Fahy said in the Senate today [May 15], which has resumed for the summer session.
Minister Fahy said, “To promote inclusiveness we said that we would: extend the days for the advance poll for travellers; introduce absentee balloting to include travellers and students away in college; give voters the right of recall over MPs; introduce fixed-term elections for every five years; and, amongst other things; set-up a process to allow citizens to initiate a referendum.”
“I can today advise that the Ministry of Home Affairs is in the final stages of establishing an ad hoc Governance Committee to advance these initiatives. Over the summer the Committee will actively engage in research regarding those matters that pertain to the timing and conduct of general elections in Bermuda.
“It should be noted that the Office of the Parliamentary Registrar has already commenced work on the absentee ballot initiative and this Office will assist the Committee with its work. The aim is to consult with the public in the coming months and to ultimately advance legislative initiatives for consideration during the next parliamentary session.”
Minister Fahy’s full statement follows below:
Madam President:
Fellow Senate members will be aware that in accordance with the Minister’s responsibilities as specified in the [Change of Responsibility and Style] Order dated December 2012, the Minister of Home Affairs has been charged with Governance Reform.
I am therefore pleased to provide an update on governance reform initiatives.
Madam President, you will know that the government is committed to transparency, inclusiveness and accountability in governance.
It is our view that political power belongs to the people.
We have pledged to work for the benefit of all and we are committed to our position of being a public service government, always putting the people first.
To promote inclusiveness we said that we would:
- Extend the days for the advance poll for travellers;
- Introduce absentee balloting to include travellers and students away in college;
- Give voters the right of recall over MPs;
- Introduce fixed-term elections for every five years; and, amongst other things;
- Set-up a process to allow citizens to initiate a referendum.
To this end, I can today advise that the Ministry of Home Affairs is in the final stages of establishing an ad hoc Governance Committee to advance these initiatives. Over the summer the Committee will actively engage in research regarding those matters that pertain to the timing and conduct of general elections in Bermuda.
Of particular interest to the Government is the consideration of fixed-term elections.
Colleagues will know that a fixed-term election is an election that occurs on a set date, and cannot be changed by the incumbent politician.
While “fixed-term elections are common for mayors and for directly elected governors and presidents, they are less common for prime ministers and parliaments in a parliamentary system of government”.
This is changing however and colleagues will be aware that “in the United Kingdom, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 set elections for Parliament on the first Thursday in May every five years”.
The Governance Committee will be established as a short-term committee and will engage in extensive research on matters of law and policy. Ultimately the Committee will submit recommendations that are in compliance with the Bermuda Constitution for the consideration of the Government.
It should be noted that the Office of the Parliamentary Registrar has already commenced work on the absentee ballot initiative and this Office will assist the Committee with its work. The aim is to consult with the public in the coming months and to ultimately advance legislative initiatives for consideration during the next parliamentary session.
I look forward to providing further updates to my Senate Colleagues once the Committee’s work gets underway. It is anticipated that the Committee membership structure and appointments will be finalized and work will commence in earnest prior to the end of this month.
Thank you Madam President.
-
YAY!! Glad to hear this. The promise of Right of Recall was the primary reason I was attracted to the OBA. Absentee Balloting and Fixed Term elections are initiatives that are many years over-due. Looking forward to these changes.
Remarkably Libertarian, Well Done Minister!
Remarkably Stupid!
We are going to change the constitution because of a narrow political victory. Seems a bit crazy to me.
Don’t really see why it is “remarkably stupid” to increase the level of democracy in Bermuda, which all of the above will do.
Giving businesses the right to vote. you think that increases the level of democracy. Please look up the term “Democracy” and get back to me. Anything that dilutes the rights of people is a backwards step!
Where in the statement does it say that they are giving businesses a vote in Parliamentary elections?
It doesn’t. You made that bit up. Before suggesting other people look up definitions, you should read the article you are commenting on.
I believe the reference is to a previous press release by Minister Fahy in relation to reforming the municipalities, specifically the Corporation of Hamilton.
You are right though, it is a separate issue than the reforms proposed in the above press release, but it is arguably related nonetheless.
Thanks for the advice. So I did a little reading up on democracy and noted that one of the biggest undemocratic tenets is “taxation without representation.” Is that something you agree with?
Dilute the rights of the people? The buildings don’t vote, but the building owners (who are people) do. And since these individuals supply 90% of all CoH taxes and invest millions into the city it is only fair that they have a vote as well. That includes building owners located on Court Street as well (before you start using the Front St benefit argument).
To my knowledge, fixed term elections and right of recall require changes to the Constitution. I thought Britain (the mother country) already has made it known that there will be no further changes to the Bermuda Constitution unless it was dealing with sovereignty. Maybe Senator Fahy knows more than me.
By the way, is this a first, that is for the Senate to sit before the House of Assembly? What was on the Order Paper?
Well, if the UK won’t allow us to change our Constitution (and bring it more in line with both Westminster and the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), I’m sure support for independence will go up, no?
I’m pretty sure he does know more than you.
Your first question is clearly rhetorical. Of course he does.
Lavern ,senator Fahy knows a hell of a lot more than you….you are syuck on stupid lady.
fahy is a clown, just becuase he is white you would say something like that. you dont know Laverne in fact you dont know s..t.
Cheap shots Laverne, thats what they are giving you. Focusing on Fahy knows more than you but running from the real question on changes to the constitution.
Are you against increasing/improving our democracy?
So you also agree?
I support, in general, the proposed reforms outlined above by Minister Fahy; I similarly had many of them in my own independent platform.
I would like to see the list of proposed reforms expanded to include campaign financing, proportional representation (perhaps along the lines of the Scottish system, of mixed first-past-the-post and proportional representation?) and either the abolishing of the Senate or making it elected.
Would also like to see changes to the parliament itself. Away from the oppositional current format and to a more consensus-based semi-circle, set times for votes and more regular sittings, rather than marathon late night sessions where our MPs vote in a mix of boredom and sleep deprivation.
Well done Minister Fahy.I support these proposals.I am not too sure about the committee though. With a little more information in the future it might help to clarify i.e. who will sit on this committee,the cost if any,etc
Good move. The UK recently changed their voting system which ours is based on to fixed dates. If they can do, so can we. The Committee will look at the way we can acheive this.