Why register to vote?

1. Political leaders are responsible to make rules and policies and to enforce such for the smooth management of the country. Political leaders are elected at formal elections.

2. Formal elections take place at the:
   • General level -
     National
   • Municipal level -
     Town Council
     City Council
   • Local level -
     Village/Community Council

     There are 29 electoral divisions • 7 towns • 2 cities • 191 village and communities.

3. Only REGISTERED VOTERS have the right to elect Political Leaders at the National and Municipal level.

Laws pertaining to voter registration

The Representation of The People Act, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Belize sets the guidelines for Voter Registration.

Who is eligible to register?

Every person who is:

1. 18 years or over
2. A citizen of:
   • Belize
   • Any Commonwealth Country who has resided in Belize for not less that 12 months
   • Any Commonwealth Country who is domiciled in Belize
3. Resident in the electoral division not less than 2 months

Where to register?

Visit the Registration Office of Elections and Boundaries Department in Your Area. Twelve District Offices countrywide are manned by Registration Officers. Registration is continuous and is conducted during normal working hours.

How do you become registered?

1. Apply:
   1. Take proof of eligibility to the Registration Office in your area -
      • Birth Certificate
      • Passport
      • Naturalization Certificate
   2. Fill out and sign Application Form and Record Card

   3. Take a photograph for the ID and the Record Cards

2. An investigation is carried out by Registration Officer to verify residence

3. A temporary list of applicants called "Supplementary" is prepared by the Registering Officer for public scrutiny from 15th to the 25th of the month. These are posted at all Registration Offices.

4. The Magistrate in a Revision Court approves the Supplementary List at the end of every month.

5. A Revised List is prepared:

   • If there are no disqualifications at (3) above then all the names appear on the Revised Lists

   • If there are disqualifications, then those so qualified are not allowed on the Revised Lists

6. An ID Card is issued to those on the Revised List approximately one week after the Revision Court.

Cycle for registration

The process of registration is continuous. It is conducted every working day. The process for a month is closed on the 10th in order to prepare the Temporary or Supplementary List for the 15th as required by law.

Monthly Cycle
From the 11th of one month to the 10th of the other, example:

August - 11th of July to the 10th of August

July - 11th of June to the 10th of July

If a person applies on or before the 10th of June, the process will be completed with June's Revision Court at the end of June.

If a person applies on the 11th of June or later, the process will be completed with July's Revision Court at the end of July.

A Revised List is posted in all Registration Offices on or before the 5th of the month or immediately after Revision Court. Copies of all monthly transactions are shared with the two major political parties.

What activities are transacted:

1. Registration of new electors
2. Changes
   • Name
   • Address outside of the Division called "Transfer" conducted in July and August only
3. Replacement of ID Cards
4. Reporting of deceased and disqualified persons
5. Rectification of errors

The above transactions are processed through the monthly Revision Court.

Dealing with disqualifications

An elector can be disqualified if the elector is:

• Less than 18 years
• Serving a sentence of imprisonment exceeding 12 months
• Under a sentence of death
• Certified insane
• Registered more than once

Where can disqualifications take place?

1. During the months of:
   February, May, June, July, August
2. During Annual Revision in October
3. In the case of double registration, after 14 days notice to the elector

The names of deceased persons are also processed during the months mentioned in 1 and 2 above - February, May, June, July, August and October.

The revision court

The monthly Revision is held at Magistrate Courts in all five District Towns and the Cities of Belmopan and Belize. Each Revision Court session is presided over by Magistrate.

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