WHO ARE WE?
Updated September 2005

ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT BODIES

Belize has two Electoral Management Bodies (EMB), The Elections and Boundaries Commission and The Elections and Boundaries Department . Each EMB is a separate, legal entity.

THE ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION

The Elections and Boundaries Commission was created through legislation in 1978 and was fully responsible for administration and staffing. At Belize's Independence in 1981, the functions and appointment of the Elections and Boundaries Commission were enshrined in the Belize Constitution under Section 88. This section was amended in 1988. Presently, Section 88 (1) states that the Commission comprises one Chairman and four members , a total of five persons.

Appointment
Section 88 (2) states that the Governor-General appoints the Chairman and the four members with certain stipulations as follows:

• The Chair and two Members: "acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister given after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition"

• The other two Members: " acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister given with the concurrence of the Leader of the Opposition"

Section 88
(13) "The Commission shall be responsible for the direction and supervision of the registration of voters and the conduct of elections, referenda and all matters connected therewith."

(14) In the exercise of its functions, the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority and shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, act in accordance with the Representation of the People Act or any other law, rule or regulation relating to elections."

In reference to Section 88 (14), under the Administrative Provisions of the Representation of The People Act, the Elections and Boundaries Commission confers its powers and duties on the Head of the Elections and Boundaries Department, the Chief Elections Officer who is responsible for administration. The Chief Elections Officer is not a member of the Elections and Boundaries Commission .

Section 90
(1) "The Elections and Boundaries Commission shall, after considering the distribution of the population throughout Belize, make proposals from the time to time for dividing Belize into electoral divisions."

(2) "The proposals of the Commission made pursuant to this section shall be laid before the National Assembly by the Chairman of the Commission."

Under Section 90 (1) (2), the Elections and Boundaries Commission is the only Electoral Management Body that is empowered to making proposals on Boundary Redistricting to the National Assembly.

THE ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMENT

The Elections and Boundaries Department was established in 1989. Subsequent to the constitutional amendments to Section 88 of the Belize Constitution, amendments were made to the Administrative Provision of the Representation of The People Act (Statutory Instrument 26 of 1988). All staffing matters were then transferred from the Elections and Boundaries Commission to the Public Services Commission. An amendment to the Belize Constitution by Act No. 2 of 2001, dated February 23, 2001, transferred jurisdiction over the Chief Elections Officer to the Public Services Commission. The Department, headed by the Chief Elections Officer, is presently within the The Office of The Prime Minister. The Chief Elections Officer and staff are responsible for the day-to-day administration and all phases of the electoral process. The Chief Elections Officer reports to the Ministry of the Public Service and the Elections and Boundaries Commission on a timely basis.

The Elections and Boundaries Department is national in scope with one Central Office , ten Branch Offices and three Sub-Offices . The Central Office, which is located in Belize City, serves as the administration center and storage for all records. Four Branch Offices are also located in Belize City. A Branch Office is located in each district town to serve the other Districts and in the Capital City of Belmopan. Threee Sub-Offices are located in Independence Village, Stann Creek District, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District and San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize District. Each Branch Office is staffed with Registering and Assistant Registering Officers. Benque Viejo del Carmen is visited every second Thursday of each month.

Functions
Under the Representation of The People Act, the areas of responsibility of the Department are Electoral Administration and the Adjustments of Electoral Records at Boundary Redistricting. Electoral Administration involves several tasks, which include:

• Organizing and directing the registration of voters
• Compiling electoral registers
• Updating and maintaining electoral records
• Organizing the conduct of elections
• Transfer of Electors

A third function , that of Voter Education , is a campaign that was launched in November 1999. This has been vigorously pursued through various initiatives including, Training, Annual Open House countrywide, Public Presentations and several Publications.

Goal
To encourage public participation, forge partnerships and to provide efficient and effective service delivery.

Objectives

• To operate a professional electoral service
• To strengthen public confidence in the electoral system
• To increase the level of voter participation through voter education

WHERE WE ARE LOCATED

Registration Offices:

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