Municipalities Reform Act 2026
Passed
Simplified for You
What this bill does
This bill eliminates municipal elections in Bermuda and replaces them with a system where the Minister appoints all mayors and councillors for the City of Hamilton and Town of St. George's. Current elected officials would serve until May 11, 2026, when the new appointed system begins.
If Passed (Voted Yes)
Bermuda residents would no longer vote for their municipal leaders - the Minister would directly appoint mayors and 4 councillors, with the remaining 4 councillors chosen from a selection committee's recommendations
All election-related processes, voter registration, and campaign rules for municipalities would be permanently removed
Municipal leaders would serve 2-year appointed terms instead of elected terms, with the Minister having power to remove them from office
If Rejected (Voted No)
Municipal elections would continue as they currently operate, with residents voting for their mayors and councillors
The existing election system, including voter registration and campaign processes, would remain in place
Current elected officials would serve their full terms and new elections would be held as scheduled
Who It Affects
This primarily affects residents and business owners in Hamilton and St. George's who currently vote in municipal elections, as well as current and future municipal councillors and mayors. The broader Bermuda public is also impacted as this represents a significant change from elected to appointed local government.
Vote counts are not published.
The Bermuda Parliament does not publicly record individual vote counts or how each member voted.
Write to your MP about this
Related Bill
Municipalities Reform Act 2026
Download bill PDF