Belize Municipal Elections: Understanding Local Democracy

Municipal elections in Belize are held every three years on the first Wednesday in March. The elections are for voters to choose a mayor and town council representatives for their communities. There are nine communities in Belize, including two cities and seven towns. The last municipal election was held on 4 March 2015, and the next one is scheduled for 6 March 2024.

Municipal elections are held every three years

Municipal elections in Belize are held every three years, specifically on the first Wednesday in March. The last municipal election was held on March 4, 2015, and the next one is scheduled for March 6, 2024.

These elections are conducted for town and city councils, which are headed by an elected mayor. There are seven towns and two cities in Belize that operate at the sub-national level of the government structure. These towns and cities are led by a mayor who is considered the Accounting Officer of the city or town council. An exception is the Belize City Administrator, who serves as the Accounting Officer for Belize City.

The municipal elections are held in accordance with the Representation of the People's Act, Revised Edition 2011. While the town and city councils act independently, they are governed by distinct municipal legislation, including the Belize City Council Act, the Belmopan City Council Act, and the Town Council Act.

The mayors of the towns and cities provide collective support to the municipal authorities through an advocacy body called the Belize Mayors' Association. This association is currently chaired by the Mayor of Belmopan.

The municipal elections in Belize are an exciting and festive affair, with political flags, music, dancing, and people dressed in their party colours. It is a one-day event where voters cast their ballots in person, and the results are typically known by the end of the day.

Mayors can hold office for up to three terms

Municipal elections in Belize are held to elect a total of 67 representatives, including mayors, town councils, and city councillors. Mayors in Belize are directly elected to three-year terms, and they can hold office for up to three terms. This means that a mayor can serve for a maximum of nine consecutive years.

In Belize, there are two types of city councils (Belize City and Belmopan) and seven town councils. Each council consists of a mayor and a number of councillors. The number of councillors varies depending on the city or town, with Belize City having ten councillors and Belmopan and the other towns having six councillors each.

The mayor, except in Belize City, acts as the chief executive of the city or town and is responsible for allocating portfolios to the other councillors. They play a crucial role in local governance by overseeing various aspects of urban life, such as street maintenance, lighting, drains, refuse collection, and management of public cemeteries.

The most recent municipal elections in Belize were held in March 2021, and the next municipal election is scheduled for March 2024.

Elections are conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People's Act, 2011

Belize's municipal elections are held at the city and town council level. These elections are conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 2011, which is part of the Belize Constitution. The Belize Constitution lays out the following rules for the conduct of elections:

• The Representation of the People Act, 2011, is part of the Belize Constitution, which is the supreme law of Belize. Any other law that is inconsistent with the Constitution is void.
• 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.
• Elections are supervised by the Elections and Boundaries Commission, which is controlled by a Chief Elections Officer. The Commission also has a board of directors that includes party representatives.
• The vote is restricted to Belizeans aged 18 and older.
• The Representation of the People Act, 2011, defines the electoral divisions for the election of members of the House of Representatives. Each electoral division is represented by one elected member.
• The Act also lays out the requirements for eligibility to vote, including being a citizen of Belize and residing in Belize for at least one year before the date of nomination for election.
• It also specifies the circumstances under which a person would be disqualified from being elected as a member of the House of Representatives, such as being under a sentence of death or imprisonment, being adjudged insane, or being convicted of an offence relating to elections.
• The Act provides for the direction and supervision of the registration of voters and the conduct of elections, referendums, and all matters connected with them.
• The Commission is responsible for the redrawing of electoral divisions to ensure that each division has an equal number of eligible voters and takes into account transport facilities and physical features.
• The Act also covers the conduct of voting, including the right to vote for every citizen of Belize or a citizen of any Commonwealth Country aged 18 or above who satisfies the requirements of the Act, and the use of a secret ballot.

The two main political parties are the United Democratic Party and the Peoples' United Party

Belize has a two-party system, with the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP) as the two dominant political parties. This two-party system has been in place since the pre-independence election of 1974, and it has proven extremely difficult for anyone to achieve electoral success as an independent or under another party.

The PUP and UDP have a preselection process for House candidates, with nominees called "standard-bearers". These standard-bearers are considered party officials responsible for the political organisation in their constituencies, regardless of whether they serve in the Belize House or not. In most cases, the incumbent House members retain their standard-bearer status, while the opposition party in a constituency often nominates its standard-bearer well in advance of a general election.

The 2021 municipal elections in Belize saw the PUP win a historic consecutive landslide victory, winning all 9 municipalities and 65 of the 67 municipal seats. This came just months after the PUP's 2020 Belizean general election victory. In the 2018 municipal elections, the UDP won 41 seats, with the PUP picking up the remaining 26.

The next municipal election is scheduled for 6 March 2024

Municipal elections in Belize are held at various levels of government. The nation 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.

Municipal elections occur every three years on the first Wednesday in March. The last municipal election was held on 4 March 2015, and the next one is scheduled for 6 March 2024.

In Belize, there are seven towns and two recognised cities: Belize City and Belmopan. The seven settlements with town status are Benque Viejo del Carmen, Corozal Town, Dangriga, Orange Walk Town, Punta Gorda, San Ignacio/Santa Elena and San Pedro Town.

Belize City, being the larger city, carries greater representation and importance, with one mayor and ten councillors elected, while Belmopan and the towns elect one mayor and six councillors each.

The 2021 municipal election saw the PUP win all nine municipalities and 65 of the 67 municipal seats, with the UDP only holding on to two seats. This was a historic consecutive landslide victory for the PUP, which also won the 2020 Belizean general election.

Frequently asked questions