Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
h . Not applicable
Comments: Belize’s Constitution refers to individuals being nominated to be elected as members of the House of Representatives, not to political parties.
Source: Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9”, Schedule III, Section 3 (2): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-representation-of-the-people-act-2020/
Verified: 2025/03/24
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Citizenship d . Residence
Comments: The residence should be of at least one year immediately before the date of the nomination. Besides, for a candidate’s nomination to be valid, BZD 200 must be deposited.
Source: Constitution: “Belize Constitution, Chapter 4”, Section 57: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-constitution-2022/
Verified: 2025/03/24
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: The registration procedures and provisions refer to individual candidates, regardless of their membership or lack thereof to any political party.
Source: Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9”, Schedule III, Section 3: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-representation-of-the-people-act-2020/
Verified: 2025/03/24
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
a . No
Comments:
Source: Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9”: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-representation-of-the-people-act-2020/ ;
Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the General Elections of
March 12, 2025 in Belize: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-oas-eom-2025-preliminary-report/ ;
International IDEA Political Finance Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/country?country=23&database_theme=302
Verified: 2025/03/24
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
g . Not applicable
Comments: There is no public funding in Belize.
Source: Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9”: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-representation-of-the-people-act-2020/ ;
Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the General Elections of
March 12, 2025 in Belize: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-oas-eom-2025-preliminary-report/ ;
International IDEA Political Finance Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/country?country=23&database_theme=302
Verified: 2025/03/24
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Although public funding is the only source of political finance in Belize, it is not regulated.
Source: Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9”: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-representation-of-the-people-act-2020/ ;
Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission for the General Elections of
March 12, 2025 in Belize: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/BZ/belize-oas-eom-2025-preliminary-report/ ;
International IDEA Political Finance Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/country?country=23&database_theme=302
Verified: 2025/03/24
The data on this page is continuously updated.
Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
