2015 Belizean general election

General elections were held in Belize on 4 November 2015 to elect members of the House of Representatives. On 28 September 2015 Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that he had advised the Governor-General to dissolve the National Assembly and to fix Wednesday 4 November 2015 as the date for the next general elections.

Barrow's United Democratic Party increased its majority from 17 seats to 19 seats.Garcia, David Alire
"Belize PM Barrow wins record third consecutive term"
Reuters, 5 November 2015. (accessed 5 November 2015) While the People's United Party won 12 seats.

Date

The prior general election was held on 7 March 2012, and the previous National Assembly opened on 21 March 2012. According to Section 84 of the Constitution of Belize, the National Assembly must be dissolved "five years from the date when the two Houses of the former National Assembly first met" unless dissolved sooner by the Governor-General of Belize upon the advice of the prime minister.Belize / Belice: Constitution 1981
Political Database of the Americas. (accessed 9 October 2014) A general election must be called within three months of a dissolution, which meant the latest possible date for the next Belizean general election was 21 June 2017.

In March 2015 UDP leader and Prime Minister Dean Barrow ruled out the possibility of a snap election later in 2015 despite his party's recent interim electoral successes."Hon. Barrow Pleased, Avoids Gloating"
Tropical Vision Limited, 5 March 2015. (accessed 16 March 2015)

In early September 2015 Barrow indicated the election would be called in early 2016, however no firm date had been set at the time."Darrell Bradley on Campaign Trail in Caribbean Shores"
Great Belize Television, 4 September 2015 (accessed 7 September 2015)

The poll is the second consecutive snap election in Belize held closer to four years rather than five. Both Barrow and the opposition People's United Party support lowering the maximum term of the National Assembly to four years.Parks, Rowland A
"General elections no later than 'first part of next year' – PM Barrow"
''Amandala'', 4 September 2015. (accessed 27 September 2015)

Candidates were formally nominated on 16 October 2015."A New, Consolidated Third Party Emerges"
Great Belize Television, 1 October 2015. (accessed 2 October 2015)

Background

The ruling UDP led by Barrow attempted to win a third consecutive election for the first time in its history. The UDP won the 2012 election with a considerably smaller majority than it enjoyed after the 2008 election. However, the PUP had not won a major election since 2003.

Going into the 2015 election, the UDP held eight of the 10 constituencies in Belize City, by far the country's largest city. Continued dominance in Belize City was seen as key to future UDP success. Meanwhile, the opposition People's United Party sought to maintain its edge in the rural districts. Gains in the Toledo, Stann Creek and Orange Walk Districts more than made up for the PUP's net loss in Belize City in 2012.Belize election maps
Psephos - Adam Carr's Election Archive. (accessed 20 November 2014)

Based on a previously scheduled purge of electoral lists by the Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission, Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca has requested international observation of the election from the Caribbean Community, the Organization of American States or the Commonwealth of Nations."PUP Wants Election Observers"
Tropical Vision Limited, 30 September 2015. (accessed 1 October 2015)

Constituency boundaries

Constituency boundaries were unchanged from 2012 as Belize does not have a regular reapportionment schedule.Belize: Electoral Law
Political Database of the Americas. (accessed 27 September 2015) Belizean electoral divisions were last redrawn in 2005. In October 2015 the opposition Vision Inspired by the People party filed suit seeking to nullify the election results based on this lack of a recent reapportionment."Party Leaders Discuss VIP's Intended Wrench"
Tropical Vision Limited, 16 October 2015. (accessed 28 October 2015)

Party leadership

Barrow, who has led the UDP since 1998, led the party for a fourth consecutive election. He stated this election would be his last as party leader.

The PUP was led by Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca, despite Fonseca facing a leadership challenge from several PUP area representatives earlier in 2015., "Opposition_Leader_Discuses_Truce_With_G-11_Rebels">,_Tropical_Vision_Limited
,_18_September_2015._(accessed_27_September_2015)_The_election_was_Fonseca's_second_as_party_leader.

_Minor_parties

Third_parties_traditionally_perform_poorly_in_Belize,_with_no_third_party_running_independently_finishing_with_more_than_one_percent_of_the_vote_nationwide_since_"Opposition_Leader_Discuses_Truce_With_G-11_Rebels">,_Tropical_Vision_Limited
,_18_September_2015._(accessed_27_September_2015)_The_election_was_Fonseca's_second_as_party_leader.

_Minor_parties

Third_parties_traditionally_perform_poorly_in_Belize,_with_no_third_party_running_independently_finishing_with_more_than_one_percent_of_the_vote_nationwide_since_1984_Belizean_general_election">1984_

_Events
_January
*_January_1_–_The_Bornean_Sultanate_of_Brunei_gains_full_independence_from_the_United_Kingdom,_having_become_a_British_protectorate_in_1888.
*__January_7_–_Brunei_becomes_the_sixth_member_of_the_Association_of_Southeast_A_...
._Belize's_active_minor_parties_at_the_time_of_the_2012_election,_Vision_Inspired_by_the_People_and_the_People's_National_Party_(Belize).html" "title="1984_Belizean_general_election.html" "title="Tropical Vision Limited">"Opposition Leader Discuses Truce With G-11 Rebels">, Tropical Vision Limited
, 18 September 2015. (accessed 27 September 2015) The election was Fonseca's second as party leader.

Minor parties

Third parties traditionally perform poorly in Belize, with no third party running independently finishing with more than one percent of the vote nationwide since 1984 Belizean general election">1984. Belize's active minor parties at the time of the 2012 election, Vision Inspired by the People and the People's National Party (Belize)">People's National Party