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About This Manual |
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An
attempt has been made in this Manual to present the basic rules
and regulations, which pertain to Elections in Belize. Its preparation
was guided by the assumption that it will be used as a quick
reference and guide only, and not as a substitute for the careful
reading and study of the source material laid out in the Representation
of The People Act, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Belize, and other
Acts pertaining to Elections.
It is hoped
that candidates, their agents and others making use of the Manual
will find it both useful and easy to use.
The Elections
and Boundaries Department, in keeping with its commitment to
continuous improvement, would welcome recommendations and suggestions
to increase the utility and value of this Manual.
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| 2.
To the Polling Agent and Candidate |
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As stakeholders
in the voting process, the role of the Polling Agent is essential
in providing an environment of transparency in the Polling and
Counting Stations. These guidelines are documented in accordance
with Election Rules and Management Rules to assist Candidates
and Agents in the performance of their duties effectively on
Election Day.
Whereas
Polling Agents and Candidates are expected to protect their
interests, the Presiding Officer is the Manager of the Polling
Station and the Returning Officer and his/her Assistant are
the overall Administrators. Their decisions are final. Decisions
of the Returning Officer et al are subject to be petitioned
by interested Parties after Election day, as per The Representation
of The People Act Chapter 9 Part VIII, "Disputed Elections,"
Sections 45 - 63.
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| 3.
Polling Agents |
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Who
Are Polling Agents
Polling Agents are representatives of Candidates officially
designated to witness the polling and counting processes on
behalf of their Candidates at specific Polling and Counting
Stations.
Each Candidate
may appoint Polling Agents to attend at Polling and Counting
Stations in a constituency/municipality being contested. No
more than two Polling Agents per Political Party are
allowed within a Polling Station at any one time. No more than
three Polling Agents per Political Party are to be appointed
to a Counting Station.
"Runners"
visit Polling Agents from time to time. While inside the Polling
Station, a "Runner" must limit his/her time and not
interfere/influence the voters nor the process.
Appointment
of an agent is made in writing to the Returning Officer, indicating
the name and address of the appointee and duly signed by the
Candidate. Application Forms can be obtained from Returning
Officers and the Central Office of the Elections and Boundaries
Department. Applications are to be filed no later than twenty-four
hours before the commencement of Polls.
Roles
of The Polling Agent
- To witness
all aspects of the voting and counting processes
- Prior
to the opening of polls, examine the ballot box to ensure
it is empty; and inspect the voting booth to ensure there
is nothing there, which may in anyway, influence the voter
- May,
through the Presiding Officer challenge and/or verify the
identity of an elector
- To witness
the marking of ballots of Incapacitated Voters
Responsibilities
of The Polling Agent
- To perform
their functions in accordance with the election rules
- To cooperate
fully with the instructions of the Election Officers
- To bring
to the attention of the Presiding Officer/Returning Officer
any action which they consider is not in accordance with the
provisions of the election rules
- To refrain
from speaking to, or attempting to influence any voter, from
the time the voter enters the Polling Station, until he/she
leaves the Polling Station
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| 4.
Types of Elections in Belize |
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General
Elections
National Elections are conducted approximately every five years
to elect leaders to the National Assembly. Twenty-nine Area
Representatives are elected.
Municipal
Elections
Town and City Council Elections are conducted approximately
every three years to elect leaders at the municipal level. One
Mayor and six Councillors are elected.
Village/Community
Council Elections
A general Village Council Election is called every three years
to elect leaders at the village level. One Chairman and six
Members are elected.
Referendum
A Referendum can be called at anytime for electors to approve
specific issues of national importance. The National Assembly
passes a resolution to declare that a certain matter is of sufficient
national importance, and electors exercise their franchise to
vote for or against the issue.
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5.
Who Are Election Officers |
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Appointment
The Chief Elections Officer monitors the conduct of Elections
before, during and after the Polls. It is the Election Officers
who conduct and manage the Elections. All Election Officers
are senior public officers who are appointed by the Elections
and Boundaries Commission through the Chief Elections Officer.
An Election Officer must take an Oath of Office. Election Officers
are:
- Returning
Officers
- Election
Clerks
- Presiding
Officers
- Poll
Clerks
- Counting
Clerks
There are
other Stakeholders-those who maintain law and order (Police
Officers) and those who witness the process (Polling Agents).
Role
and Responsibility of Election Officers
General
The Returning
Officer is the Chief Administrator in the conduct of elections.
He/she is responsible to supervise all other officers. The Election
Clerk is the Assistant to the Returning Officer and
can be called upon to perform the duties of the Returning
Officer should the need arise. The Presiding Officer
maintains full control of the Polling Station and is assisted
by Poll Clerks. The Counting Clerk counts the
votes under the guidance of the Returning Officer. The
Returning Officer does not supervise Police Officers,
but the Returning Officer can request the assistance
of the Police to maintain law and order.
Returning
Officer
A Returning Officer is assigned to an Electoral Division or
a Municipality. The responsibilities of the Returning Officer
are:
- Overall
management of the election procedure in his Electoral Division
- Distribution
of election supplies to Presiding Officers and other election
officers
- Accepting
proxies and maintaining a record of such
- Supervision
of counting
- Announcing
of results
- Reporting
of final results to the Chief Elections Officer on the completion
of counting
- Certification
of final results to the Chief Elections Officer
The work
of the Returning Officer starts immediately with his appointment.
He works closely with the Elections and Boundaries Department
from the time of his appointment to the announcement of the
election results. The first assignment is the receipt of nominations
for candidates contesting the election.
The Returning Officer coordinates the work of his officers and
ensures a state of preparedness. Before polling, he visits his
Polling Stations accompanied by Presiding Officers to ensure
that the stations are secure and that the environment both inside
and outside is adequate for voting.
On Election
Day, the Returning Officer visits, at intervals, each Polling
Station in his jurisdiction during polling to satisfy himself
that all is well. He consults with the Presiding Officer, offers
advice and solves problems when necessary.
After the
close of polls, he supervises the counting of votes and announces
the results.
Election
Clerk
The Election Clerk is to assist the Returning Officer. The Returning
Officer can assign any election duty to his Election Clerk before
and during the day of election.
Presiding
Officer
The Presiding Officer is responsible for the supervision of
the taking of the poll in the Polling Station on Election Day
and ensures that the station functions efficiently and effectively.
Other responsibilities of the Presiding Officer are to:
- Collect
from the Returning Officer, prior to Election Day, all supplies
for use in the Polling Station
- Inspect
the Polling Station and satisfy himself that it is prepared
for Election Day. He must arrange the station in a manner
that will facilitate orderly voting
- Inspect
and open all ballot boxes in the presence of witnesses i.e.,
Candidates or Polling Agents or Electors
- To ensure
that ballot boxes are empty before the opening of poll
- Make
the required entries in the Station Diary, signed by witnesses
- Declare
the Polling Station open for voting
- Regulate
the number of voters within the Polling Station
- Initial
each ballot paper before issuing to voter
- Ensure
that the voter's right forefinger, to at least the first joint,
is dipped in indelible ink
- Mark
the register to indicate that the voter has voted
- Cancel
and initial spoilt ballot papers by marking "Cancelled"
across them
- Ensure
that only authorized persons are allowed inside the Polling
Station
- Resolve
any problems inside the Polling Station in an amicable manner
- Assist
incapacitated voters, in the presence of Polling Agents
- Ensure
that information on any elector not permitted to vote is recorded
in the Station Diary
- Ensure
that the Polling Agents are permitted to witness the process
without interfering with the electors and the proceedings
- Seal
ballot boxes, at the close of polls, in the presence of Polling
Agents
- Escort
ballot boxes to the Counting Station
Poll
Clerk
The Poll Clerk is to assist the Presiding Officer. He is required
to be at the Polling Station at least one hour before the polls
are opened. The Poll Clerk inspects the identification card
of every elector entering the Polling Station, to ensure that
his/her name is on the Voters' List or in the Electoral Binder.
He sends the elector to the Presiding Officer for a ballot paper.
The Poll Clerk assists with the process of sealing all documents
and ballot boxes at the close of polls at 6:00 p.m. The main
functions of the Poll Clerk are to:
- Assist
in monitoring the smooth flow of electors inside the Polling
Station
- Call
the name of the elector and inspect the identification card
to ensure that the name appears on the Voters List
- Mark
a line with ink over the name of the elector on the Voters
List to indicate that the elector has voted
- Assist
the elector to dip his right forefinger up to the first joint
in indelible ink
- Observe
that the elector deposits his ballot paper inside the ballot
box
Counting
Clerk
The Counting Clerk works in the Counting Station. He assists
in the reconciliation and counting of votes under the supervision
of the Returning Officer.
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| 6.
Polling Stations |
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Polling
Station
Establishing
the Polling Station
The Polling
Station refers to the room or building where voting takes place.
It is usually a public building e.g classrooms, and should be
accessible to all voters. It comprises furniture, ballot boxes
and voting booths. All instructions to electors are placed outside
of the Polling Station. Entry and exit signs are to be visible
at all times.
Limits
of The Polling Station
There will
be a demarcation of one hundred (100) yards from the Polling
Station where no person can assemble or congregate. The law
prohibits politicians and campaigners to canvass an elector
within the line. The Presiding Officer can request the assistance
of the Police in removing persons violating the law.
Hours
of Voting
The Polls
open at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. When the Presiding
Officer announces the close of Polls at 6:00 p.m., one Police
Officer on duty will stand behind the last person in the line
to deter other persons from joining the line. Voting continues
until all persons in the line have voted.
Who
May Visit the Polling Station
The
Returning Officer
The Returning
Officer is the person who is in charge of the conduct of elections
in a constituency/municipality.
The
Election Clerk
The Election
Clerk is the assistant to the Returning Officer and can visit
the Polling/Counting Stations in a constituency/municipality.
The
Chief Elections Officer
The Chief
Elections Officer (CEO) is the head of the Elections and Boundaries
Department. The CEO may appoint other staff to visit any Polling/Counting
Stations.
The
Candidate
Candidates
representing any of the Political Parties are authorized to
visit any Polling Station within their Electoral Division. While
inside the Polling Station, the candidate must limit his/her
time and not interfere/influence the voters, nor the process.
The
Polling Agent
Polling
Agents are persons appointed by candidates to represent them
inside the Polling Stations. They observe the process and report
to their Candidates. They are not allowed to question any voter.
Not more than two agents per Political Party are to be allowed
in the Polling Station and not more than three in the
Counting Station.
"Runners"
are allowed limited time to consult with Polling Agents in the
Polling Station only.
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| 7.
Nomination Procedure |
Each
candidate deposits with the Government Treasury:
The original receipt issued by the Government Treasury is to
be shown to the Returning Officer.
The
Returning Officer receives nominations from all candidates
of a constituency/municipality.
The
Returning Officer gives the nomination paper to the persons
nominating.
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For
General Elections six persons whose names appear
on the Voters' List sign the nomination form as witnesses
for a Candidate. The Candidate assents to the nomination
by signing on the nomination form. If at four o'clock
in the afternoon only one Candidate has been nominated
for the seat to be filled, the Returning Officer declares
such Candidate to have been elected and certifies by endorsing
the return of that Candidate on Form 20 and returns the
Writ to the Chief Elections Officer for transmission to
the Governor-General
- For
Municipal Elections two persons whose names appear on the
Voters' List sign the nomination form as witnesses to the
Candidate. The Candidate assents to the nomination by signing
on the nomination form. One hour is given for nomination-11:00
a.m. to 12:00 noon
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| 8.
Voting Procedure |
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Who
Can Vote
Only registered electors can vote in a Referendum, Municipal
or General Election. An elector can vote with or without
a Voters' Identification Card if his name appears on the Voters'
List and/or has a Record Card in the binder. See the following
examples.
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A voter
is not on the Voters' List but has a record
card in the Binder; he is to be allowed to vote
- A voter
has an Identification Card, but is neither on the Voters'
List nor in the Binder; he is not to be allowed
to vote.
The Presiding
Officer is to record such occurrences in his diary.
Other
Rules
- Any
candidate or polling agent may challenge the identity of an
elector
- The
elector may be refused a ballot paper if he does not comply
with the staining of the forefinger of the right hand or the
left hand if no right
Questions
That May be put to the Voter
If the elector's identity is called into question, the Presiding
Officer has the right to ask questions of the elector relating
to age, place of residence etc. for example:
- Are
you the same person whose name appears on this Voters' List?
- Have
you voted in this election?
The Presiding
Officer may ask the above questions of any voter at the time
of voting. The Candidate or Agent may ask the abovementioned
questions through the Presiding Officer.
Spoilt
Ballot
Should an elector spoil his ballot paper, the Presiding Officer
is to issue another after retrieving, cancelling and recording
the initial ballot paper. The elector delivers the spoilt ballot
paper to the Presiding Officer who issues another ballot paper
to the elector. The Presiding Officer cancels the spoilt ballot
paper by writing the word Cancelled across the face of the ballot.
He initials and retains the cancelled ballot paper.
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| 9.
Counting Procedure |
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Who
May be Admitted into The Counting Station
- The
Returning Officer and other staff
- The
Chief Elections Officer and other staff
- Not
more than three Polling Agents per Political Party to monitor
the process
- Candidates-Not
more than one for General; two for Municipal as observers
only
Counting
of Votes-The Process
The Returning Officer receives all ballot boxes from the Presiding
Officers. He then reads the rules of conduct and the count.
He dismisses the Presiding Officers and welcomes the Counting
Officers, Polling/Counting Agents and Observers. Tally sheets
issued by the Elections and Boundaries Department are to be
used to record the count. The Returning Officer is to ensure
that the Reconciliation Forms presented by the Presiding Officers
are arithmetically accurate before dismissing them.
Counting
Rules
Rejected
Ballot Papers
The Returning Officer shall declare "Rejected"
void and not count a ballot paper if:
- The
ballot paper does not have the Presiding Officer's initial
on the back of it
- The
elector has voted for more candidates than there are seats
- The
ballot paper is not marked for any candidate
- The
ballot paper contains any mark or writing that could identify
the elector
- The
ballot paper is unmarked or void for uncertainty
If any of
the above occurs on a ballot paper, the Returning Officer
shall mark "Rejected" and "Rejected
Objected To" if any objection is made to his
decision by any of the persons who are entitled to be present.
Recount
The candidate or his agent may request:
a) Recounting
of ballot papers
b) Rechecking of figures recorded by the Counting Clerk or
the Returning Officer
The Returning
Officer may refuse such request if he believes that it is not
reasonable.
The Returning
Officer may request a recount if he questions the accuracy of
the count or a recheck of the figures recorded by the Counting
Clerks.
Candidates
with Equal Votes
1. Municipal
Elections:
If two or more candidates garner an equal number of votes, lots
are drawn to decide the winner.
2. General
Elections:
A re-election in the electoral division is to be held no later
than three months after the date of count.
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| 10.
Overall Management Election Rules |
The
Polling Agents
Not more
than two agents per Political Party are allowed within the Polling
Station at any one time; and not more than three agents are
allowed within the Counting Station at any one time. "Runners"
are allowed limited time to consult with Polling Agents
in the Polling Station only. Polling Agents and Runners are
strictly prohibited from campaigning within the one hundred
yards line.
The
Press at The Polling Station
The Press
is not allowed within the one hundred yards line of the Polling
Station nor inside the Polling Station. Once the Returning Officer
has updated the Chief Elections Officer, he may pass the information
to the Press beyond the one hundred yards marker. The Chief
Elections Officer will brief the media on a timely basis.
Counting
Station
The Returning
Officer sets the rules in the Counting Station. His/her decision
is final. Anyone who disagrees may file a petition after Election
Day as per The Representation of The People Act Chapter 9 Part
VIII, "Disputed Elections", Sections 45 - 63. Refer
to the Counting Rules and the following as guidelines to these
rules.
- Only
the following are allowed inside the Counting
Station by the Returning Officer and his/her Assistant:
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Only
Polling Agents appointed by Candidates and on the roster
of the Returning Officer will be allowed into the Counting
Station. The Polling Agent may be requested to provide Identification
by the Returning Officer.
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Any
Polling Agent who leaves the Counting Station will not be
allowed to re-enter nor will he/she be replaced with an
alternate.
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Only
the Returning Officer and his/her Assistant, the Police
Officer and the Chief Elections Officer and staff are allowed
to use a cellular phone inside the Counting Station.
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All
Polling Agents will be provided with Tally Sheets and pens/pencils,
deemed to be the only supplies needed in the Counting Station.
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PRODUCED
BY ELECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES DEPARTMRNT
JULY 2002
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