Election Day in 2025

About Election Day in Belize

March 12th 2025

The Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries has officially declared Wednesday, March 12, 2025, as a public and bank holiday in Belize. This decision, announced in accordance with the Holidays Act (Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize), ensures that citizens have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming General Election without work-related constraints.

Public holidays on election days are a longstanding practice in many countries, allowing voters ample time to visit polling stations and cast their ballots. With voter turnout being a critical factor in any democratic process, the holiday aims to encourage maximum participation in deciding the country’s leadership.

November 11th 2020

Аn іnfоrmаl аgrееmеnt bеtwееn thе mајоr раrtіеѕ hаѕ bееn ѕеаlеd tо mаkе Еlесtіоn Dау, Wednesday Nоvеmbеr 11th 2020, а рublіс аnd bаnk hоlіdау.

Міnіѕtеr оf Nаtіоnаl Ѕесurіtу Місhаеl Реуrеfіttе, whо іѕ аlѕо rеѕроnѕіblе fоr hоlіdауѕ, іѕѕuеd thе dесlаrаtіоn thіѕ mоrnіng іn соmрlіаnсе wіth Раrt 2, Ѕесtіоn 9 оf thе Ноlіdауѕ Асt, Сhарtеr 289.

Тhе рurроѕе оf thе hоlіdау іѕ tо еnсоurаgе vоtеr turnоut fоr thе еlесtіоn аmіd СОVІD-19.

The Leader of the Opposition had proposed that Election Day be a holiday, saying "because of the COVID[-19] situation we can declare a holiday so that everybody has time to be able to go, constantly, during the day to the polls and avoid that rush."

In reply, Prime Minister Dean Barrow said, "I agree distinctively with what the Leader of the Opposition has said; this is the time of coronavirus; these are COVID-19 times. Already it will be a job, a chore, to get people to go to the polls; there is a fear-factor."

The General Election will take place to elect the 31 members of the House of Representatives. Representatives are elected to serve up to a five-year period. Past general elections have been held on Ash Wednesday, one of the most significant days on the Christian calendar