Voting In Belize: A Step-By-Step Guide

Belize is a parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature called the National Assembly. The House of Representatives, the lower chamber, has 31 members elected for terms of up to five years in single-seat constituencies on a first-past-the-post basis.

To vote in Belize, you must be a Belizean citizen aged 18 or over.

Who can vote in Belize?

To be eligible to vote in Belize, you must be:

• 18 years of age or over
• A British subject who has ordinarily resided in Belize for a period of not less than twelve months immediately preceding the date of your application to be registered
• Domiciled in Belize and ordinarily resident therein on the date of your application to be registered
• Resident for a period of not less than two months immediately preceding the date of your application to be registered, in the electoral division in which you seek registration
• Registered as an elector in the proper register
• In possession of an identification card issued to you by the Chief Elections Officer

You will be disqualified from voting in Belize if you:

• Are under 18 years of age
• Are, by virtue of your own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to any foreign power or State which is not a member of the Commonwealth
• Are under a sentence of death imposed on you by the Supreme Court or any court in any part of the Commonwealth, or are serving a sentence of imprisonment exceeding twelve months, imposed on you by such court or substituted by a competent authority, or are under such a sentence of death or imprisonment, the execution of which has been suspended
• Are certified to be insane or otherwise adjudged to be of unsound mind, or are a patient in any establishment maintained wholly or mainly for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from mental illness or mental defectiveness, by virtue of or under any law in force in Belize
• Are an undischarged bankrupt
• Are disqualified for registration as an elector by virtue of any law in force in Belize, whether or not by reason of your having been convicted of an offence relating to elections

How do I register to vote in Belize?

To register to vote in Belize, you must be:

• Eighteen years of age or over.
• A citizen of Belize or a citizen of any Commonwealth country who has ordinarily resided in Belize for a period of not less than twelve months.
• Resident for a period of not less than two months in the electoral division in which you seek registration.

To apply, you must take along either of the following original documents to the Registration Center in the electoral division where you reside:

• Belizean Birth Certificate and a photo ID (Social Security Card or photograph certified, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace); or
• Valid Belizean Passport; or
• Belizean Nationality Certificate, (Social Security Card or photograph certified, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace is required for certificates without picture); or
• Original Commonwealth Citizen Country's Passport.

In addition, you must also bring:

• Marriage and/or Divorce Certificate for females (where applicable); or
• Deed Poll accompanied by Birth Certificate and a photo ID (Social Security Card or photograph certified, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace); or
• Adoption Certificate and a photo ID (Social Security Card or photograph certified, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace).

In exceptional cases only, where a person is desirous of being registered as an elector and is unable to produce their birth certificate or other documents, the applicant must:

• Bring along a photograph certified, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace to be a true likeness of the person.
• Complete a form available at the registration center or area where the person is seeking registration specifying their name, address, date and place of birth, parents' particulars and such other particulars as may be necessary to enable the General Registry or Immigration Department to verify the correctness.

The Re-Registration Process

The last time Belize cleaned up its voters list was in 1997. The re-registration process started on July 2, 2018, and the government has budgeted about $8 million to get it done. The re-registration officially started on July 2, 2018, and ended on August 31, 2018. After this date, all other persons who haven't re-registered will have to do so at the Elections and Boundaries registration offices.

Where do I vote in Belize?

Belize is divided into six districts: Belize, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Corozal, Cayo, and Toledo. Each district is further divided into constituencies, with Belize District having 13, Orange Walk District 4, Stann Creek District 2, and so on.

To find out where to vote in Belize, you can refer to the Elections and Boundaries Department's website, which provides a list of polling stations for each district. The website also offers downloadable polling station information for previous elections, going back to 2008.

Additionally, Belize has a two-party system, with the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP) being the dominant parties.

When do I vote in Belize?

Belize holds national elections at various levels of government. The last general election was held on 11 November 2020.

General elections are held every five years or at the pleasure of the Governor-General. The Governor-General can dissolve or prorogue the National Assembly at any time under the advice of the Prime Minister, with the caveat that a general election must be called within three months of such dissolution.

Municipal elections are held on the first Wednesday in March every third year. The next municipal election is tentatively scheduled for 6 March 2024.

By-elections and referendums are held less regularly. By-elections are usually held to replace representatives lost during their term for various reasons, while referendums are typically held on issues of local or national importance.

What type of voting system does Belize have?

Belize has a two-party system, with the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP) dominating the political landscape.

The country's legislature, the National Assembly, is bicameral, consisting of the more powerful lower chamber, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

The House of Representatives is made up of 31 members, each representing a single-seat constituency. Members are elected for terms of up to five years, and voting operates on a first-past-the-post basis.

The Senate, meanwhile, has 13 seats. Six senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and the remaining four on the advice of various nonpartisan groups.

Frequently asked questions