At Stake in this Referendum:

• Voters will decide whether to resolve Belize’s territorial dispute with Guatemala through the International Court of Justice.

Government Structure:

• Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II*
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Dean BARROW
• Assembly: Belize has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of a Senate with 13 seats and House of Representatives with 31 seats.

*Queen ELIZABETH II is represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr.

Electoral Requirements:

• The referendum requires a simple majority to pass.

About this Referendum:

• If this referendum passes, the territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala will be settled through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The same referendum passed in Guatemala in April 2018. For the referendum to have force, both countries must agree to abide by the judgment of the ICJ. More information on the referendum can be found here.

Main Provisions in the Referendum:

• Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determines finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the parties?

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 390,231 (2019 est.)
• Registered voters: 148,500

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 194,051 (2019 est.)
• Is Belize a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (7 March 1990)
• Has Belize ratified CEDAW: Yes (16 May 1990)
• Gender Quota: No
• Female Candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Legislators: 3 (9.7%) of 31 seats in the House of Representatives; 2 (15.4%) of 13 seats in the Senate
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 106 (2018)
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

• Is Belize a signatory to CRPD: Yes (9 May 2011)
• Has Belize ratified CRPD: Yes (2 June 2011)
• Population with a disability: 52,105 (est.)