Introduction
Belize has two Electoral Management Bodies (EMB), The Elections and Boundaries Commission and The Elections and Boundaries Department each being separate legal entity. 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 of the post of Chief Elections Officer to the Public Services Commission.
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 Constitutional and Political Reforms and religious Affairs as well as the Elections and Boundaries Commission on a timely basis.
The Elections and Boundaries Department is national in scope with one Central Office and fourteen Branch Offices and one Sub-Office. Each Branch Office is staffed with Registering and Assistant Registering Officers. The Central Office, which is now located in Belmopan serves as the administration centre and the storage for all election records. Three Branch Offices are located in Belize City and one in Ladyville. A Branch Office is located in each town to serve the other Districts, San Pedro Ambergris Caye and surrounding islands. A Sub-Office is also located in Independence Village, Stann Creek District.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Elections and Boundaries Department serves as the secretariat to the Elections and Boundaries Commission.
Under the Representation of The People Act, the areas of responsibility of the Department are; Electoral administration, the Adjustments of Electoral Records and Boundary Redistricting. Electoral Administration involves several tasks, which include:
- Organizing and directing the registration of voter
- Compiling electoral registers
- Updating and maintaining electoral records
- Organizing the conduct of elections
- Transfer of Electors
A third function is that of Voter Education, which entails Public School Presentations, Library Corners, Radio and Television Talk Shows.
The Elections and Boundaries Commission
- The Commission was created through legislation in 1978 and was fully responsible for administration and staffing of all electoral matters.
- It is responsible for the direction and supervision of the registration of voters and the conduct of elections
- Make proposals from the time to time for dividing Belize into electoral divisions.