Bermuda could be facing a new day in voting trends as many people review their current economic plight and search for a new direction to recapture the spirit of the Bermuda that gave most citizens pride, despite challenges in crossing bridges of social imbalance.With a general election not too far away, and the knowledge that Party politics will be a big player, there are hints that rumblings beneath the surface may force some die-hard voters to think a little harder when they pull that curtain behind them in that little booth of freedom.Let's be clear, there will be voters who will follow trends of the past and no need to spell out what we mean here. What might be different this time is that candidates on both sides are likely to get closer scrutiny as large segments of the populace are far from pleased over a number of issues and are wary of those seeking power.On a global scale one might wonder how an Island with such a small population could be so divided politically. Perhaps the real wonder is how we as a people have been unable to turn the page on past social injustices with a better understanding of mistakes that continue to keep us apart as a society.When any democratic country runs into deep trouble with significant job losses that usually hit families hard, the pain can be such that people lose faith in political promises and talk that things will get better. Bermudians are known to have pride, but a political promise no matter how attractive, means nothing to a struggling parent at the kitchen table, trying to provide hope for children in tough times.That scenario might not seem Bermudian, but the harsh reality these days is that many families throughout our community are battling to stay afloat in rough economic seas, and there is a wide perception that the recent global recession was not entirely the cause. It is generally accepted that all countries, including Bermuda, were affected, but what is not accepted is that with warning signs flashing ahead of the recession there is a widespread perception that authorities of the day left the public purse open too long.Even so, this is still not a time to engage in slicing up each other over what went wrong. Neither can we as a people ignore matters of deep concern simply because it could be offensive to one political group or another.In the United States voters were disappointed in the Bush administration and felt the country needed change, and in the process many Republicans crossed lines to help bring about the historic victory of President Obama. His new administration encountered many challenges that impacted the nation to a point where today there is a new wave of by-partisan cooperation in Washington, even though both major political parties remain some distance apart on how key issues should be handled.That will always be the case since democracy provides the window to have different viewpoints. In other words politicians are beginning to understand that being divided strictly on Party lines, is not always in the best interest of the country and the people they serve.Voting strictly for Party here in Bermuda is not likely to change, however difficult times cause many voters to question allegiance to any group, that might not be delivering as promised.Here in Bermuda when election candidates begin to roam the hills with a litany of promises the average voter will be somewhat guarded as a result of disappointment, justified or not, over the current state of affairs. Talk to people up and down the Island and it is clear this is not some tightly held secret.Many voters feel a lack of promised Government transparency on important matters of the day has created an undercurrent of mistrust throughout the community. This is not to say the Government of the day is not trustworthy. That would be grossly unfair. No government is perfect. But as Bermuda tries to move forward harsh realities such as unemployment, violent crime, a decline in tourism, education and health care, are matters of utmost concern. Despite these issues it remains to be seen whether such harsh realities will actually result in a shift in voting trends.Whatever happens though, most people would want to know Bermuda itself will be the highest priority when the voter steps behind that curtain.