HUNDREDS of voters could be disenfranchised at the next General Election unless Government moves forward with Parliamentary reform, the Opposition claims.

And even if Government does table amendments to the Parliamentary Election Act prior to the next poll, many voters will still be without a voice because the changes do not go far enough.

United Bermuda Party spokesman for Legislative Affairs John Barritt said plans to allow absent constituents to vote by post had been in the pipeline for years but have yet to be tabled in the House of Assembly by Government.

And that means that, with an election two years away at most, Government must act quickly to ensure that voters off the island when an election is called will still have a say at the polls.

According to Mr. Barritt, the Opposition presented a motion to allow absentee ballots in November 2002, but that was withdrawn after Government declared it was going to present its own motion on electoral reform.

As a result, a committee of civil servants was set up to investigate the issue of absentee ballots and, in April 2003 put forward a proposal that postal balloting should be introduced to enable absent voters to cast their vote from abroad.

But it was not until July 2005 that a draft Bill was tabled by Government. The Bill was held over to allow time for public consultation but, 12 months on, has still not been brought forward.

Yesterday Mr. Barritt said: "It's very disappointing that, in the 21st century, we still don't have provision for absentee ballots.

"We were expecting this to come forward in this session but, four years after it was first raised by ourselves, absolutely nothing has been done and another General Election is staring us in the face."

Mr. Barritt said that, even if Government does push ahead with the draft bill, many absent voters will still be unable to cast their vote.

"Earlier this year our caucus had a presentation walking us through the legislation and how it would work and I understand the same presentation was made to the PLP, but we have made it clear that we don't think it goes far enough," Mr. Barritt said.

"It makes provision for absentee ballots which allows for postal ballots for people who are abroad during a General Election ? either because they're students or are working outside of Bermuda or are receiving medical treatment abroad.

"But what really galls us is it doesn't provide for people who are not going to be here during a General Election because they are travelling. There are hundreds of people who fall into that category and these people are going to be denied ? that's wrong.

"I hope the reason for the delay is that Government is having a rethink, but here we are now, with only another two years left, and a General Election is coming closer and closer."

Mr. Barritt said the delay in bringing forward the amendment highlighted a wider issue ? the slow pace of legislation being brought forward for debate in the House of Assembly.

"If you look at the legislation that has come forward in this session and compare that to what was promised in the Throne Speech in November, obviously there's a problem with the legislative sausage-making machine," he said.