2025 - Channel 5 Belize

65.1% Voter Turnout Nationwide

As of 7:47 p.m. on March 12, 2025, the Belize Elections & Boundaries Department reported a 65.1% voter turnout in the General Election 2025 across 29 of the 31 electoral divisions. Out of 197,018 registered electors, 128,262 ballots have been cast at 484 polling stations, with female voters representing 51.83% of the votes compared to 48.1% by male voters.

High turnout was noted in several divisions, with Corozal North leading at 80.20%, followed by Corozal South West at 78.36% and Albert at 75.22%. Corozal South East and Lake Independence registered 74.74% and 73.84%, respectively, while Orange Walk South and Queen’s Square saw 72.23% and 71.78% turnout. Cayo North and Corozal Bay also reported robust participation, with 71.14% and 71.11% of registered voters casting ballots.

Turnout in other areas remained strong, with Orange Walk North at 69.98%, Toledo West at 69.00%, and Orange Walk Central at 68.59%. Mesopotamia and Collet recorded 67.20% and 67.09%, while Cayo West and Toledo East reported 66.90% and 64.71%, respectively. Slightly lower participation was seen in Cayo Central (63.25%), Belize Rural North (63.19%), and Cayo North East (62.89%), with Cayo South and Orange Walk East close behind at 62.88% and 62.27%.

Lower voter turnout was observed in Freetown (59.70%), Belmopan (59.65%), and Belize Rural Central (59.49%). Caribbean Shores and Belize Rural South registered 57.18% and 56.64%, respectively, while Port Loyola, Stann Creek West, and Dangriga had the lowest turnouts at 53.02%, 50.94%, and 47.11%.

The total voter turnout in the 2020 general election was 81.86%.

PM Briceño Confident in PUP Victory as Polls Close

As polling stations closed across Belize, Prime Minister and People’s United Party (PUP) Leader John Briceño expressed confidence in his party’s re-election. Speaking from Orange Walk Central, Briceño shared that early reports from across the country suggest a PUP victory, though the final seat count remains uncertain.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling, but based on the reports we’ve received countrywide, we believe we will be re-elected to continue the work we started with Plan Belize in November 2020,” Briceño stated. He predicted that the PUP could secure a seat count close to the 26 seats won in the last general election—possibly even more.

While acknowledging that final results are still pending, Briceño said he feels “fairly confident” in a PUP win. Briceño is also confident that the people of Orange Walk Central have elected him to office once again.

He also expressed confidence that his fellow PUP candidates in Orange Walk District, Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes (Orange Walk North), Kevin Bernard (Orange Walk East), Jose Mai (Orange Walk South) would also be re-elected.

Briceño suggested that internal divisions within the UDP had contributed to low voter turnout among their supporters. “Many hardcore UDP supporters were ashamed of their party’s state and chose to stay home. Others, seeing the division within the UDP, decided to support us instead,” he claimed.

Briceño camp has set up a stage by the Orange Walk Town Council for the Prime Minister’s announcement.

OAS Chief of Mission Observes Calm and Orderly Election Process in Belize

The Organization of American States (OAS) has deployed a 12-member observation team from seven different nationalities to monitor Belize’s 2025 General Election. The mission, led by Chief of Mission Maricarmen Plata, has been actively observing the process since the opening of polls and has reported a peaceful and orderly election so far.

Speaking from St. Martin’s, Plata noted that the OAS team has been deployed across the country, gathering feedback from various constituencies. While voter turnout has been steady, she expressed hope that participation would increase throughout the afternoon. “We have the team deployed in different parts of the country, so everybody has been observing and letting us know the feedback of the different constituencies.”

The mission has engaged with political parties, electoral authorities, and other key stakeholders, assessing aspects such as technology, electoral processes, and governance issues. Plata stressed that their role is to support electoral authorities and democracy in Belize, ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently.

She added, “ We have seen a very calm election. We have been seeing. Good turnout. Um, but hopefully that will increase during the afternoon. So we’re looking forward to seeing more people coming out this afternoon. There’s still a couple of hours left in the day, and we do wanna encourage people to come out because it’s important to have as much participation as we can.”

One of the ongoing concerns raised by previous OAS observer missions is electoral redistricting, which has yet to be implemented. Plata confirmed that the issue remains under review and will be included in the preliminary report to be released in the coming days, followed by a comprehensive final report. She said, “ We are reviewing, uh, the present situation of that, and that will be included also in our report. We’ve of course, uh, been asking and, and following up on our prior recommendations, and that will be included also in the report. We will issue a report at the, be at the end of the process, a preliminary report in the coming days and later on a full report. So definitely something that we’ll be looking into and reporting on.”
The mission is also reviewing Belize’s campaign financing regulations, or the lack thereof. Plata noted that Belize currently does not have strong laws governing campaign financing, a concern that has been highlighted in past reports. ”

“ If you do, um, see anybody wearing the, the, the vest and you can reach out to those people and they will have a process to take in the report and consider that as well in the information that we are compiling. It’s interesting that you had mention campaign financing and the fact that in Belize there’s not necessarily any laws that govern how these things are done,” Plata added.

This is the fourth OAS electoral observer mission in Belize.

UDP’s John Saldivar Confident in Belmopan Amid Low Voter Turnout

United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate for Belmopan, John Saldivar, has expressed confidence in his campaign despite reports of a lower-than-expected voter turnout in the division.

Speaking with News Five, Saldivar acknowledged that while a low turnout is not typical for Belmopan, it often does not favor the incumbent, as it may indicate a lack of mobilization among their supporters. However, he stated that the UDP’s numbers remained strong and that he was optimistic about the final results.

Saldivar said he was satisfied with the UDP’s electoral machinery in Belmopan, noting that they were holding steady against the People’s United Party (PUP).

“We feel very good. When we look at the numbers vis-a-vis the PUP, we are doing pretty well,” he said.

Saldivar highlighted social and infrastructure concerns as the main issues raised by voters. He pointed to what he described as a deterioration of infrastructure in Belmopan over the past four years, contrasting it with his tenure in government when, according to him, over $40 million was invested in the city’s roads and other developments.

“The people of Belmopan are very concerned about the rapid deterioration of the infrastructure,” he stated. When asked whether the internal divisions within the UDP have impacted support in Belmopan, Saldivar dismissed concerns, asserting that voters in the division remained clear on who represents the party.

“I don’t think it affects us much here in Belmopan. Voters know very well who has been representing the UDP,” he said.

Midday Election Turnout Reaches 28.38% Across Belize

As Belize’s 2025 General Election progresses, voter turnout has reached 28.38% as of 12:20 p.m., according to the Elections and Boundaries Department. With data compiled from 29 of 31 electoral divisions, a total of 55,912 ballots have been cast.

The gender breakdown of voters shows that 51.29% of ballots were cast by female voters, while 48.71% came from male voters.

Highest Turnout Divisions at Midday

Some divisions are seeing significantly higher voter engagement than others. The Albert division currently leads with a 43.88% turnout, followed closely by Queen’s Square (42.32%), Lake Independence (40.12%), and Mesopotamia (39.41%).

Other divisions with strong voter participation include Freetown (37.29%), Collet (37.05%), Toledo West (36.75%), and Cayo North (32.97%).

Lower Turnout in Southern Belize

At the other end of the spectrum, Stann Creek West (17.15%) and Dangriga (17.70%) are seeing the lowest voter turnout so far.

With polling stations remaining open until 6:00 p.m., election officials are urging all eligible voters to cast their ballots before the deadline. Turnout figures are expected to increase as the day progresses.

Deputy Commissioner Rosado: Police Bolster Presence to Ensure Peaceful Election

As Belizeans head to the polls, law enforcement officials are working to maintain order and ensure a smooth electoral process. Speaking outside Swift Hall on Vernon Street in Belize City, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Operations, Dr. Richard Rosado, reaffirmed the police department’s commitment to upholding public safety and the integrity of the elections.

“Our role as law enforcement is to be the guardians of public order and safety,” Dr. Rosado stated. “We are working closely with election officials to ensure a coordinated and effective response to any challenges that may arise.”

To strengthen security measures, police presence has been significantly increased at polling stations nationwide. Officers are working alongside the Belize Defence Force and the Coast Guard to provide comprehensive public security coverage. Law enforcement teams are also closely monitoring areas with a history of gang activity, utilizing intelligence to prevent any potential disruptions.

Dr. Rosado issued a stern warning against unlawful behaviour, saying that authorities will take proportionate action against any violations. “Let there be no misunderstanding that any unlawful behaviour will be dealt with. And proportionate action will be taken,” he asserted.

In high-risk areas such as Lake Independence, where gang-related incidents are a concern, additional security personnel, including police recruits and seasoned officers, have been deployed. “We have a significant increase of police manpower across the city and across the country, including our personnel from the Coast Guard. And the police defence was to ensure that all levels of public security are maintained, coordinated, and effectively policed. So I want to assure all voters, all Ians, that we are doing everything possible to maintain public security and public order,” Dr. Rosado added.

On the issue of alcohol consumption, which is prohibited on election day, the Deputy Commissioner noted that businesses and residents have largely been cooperative. While some instances of public drinking have been observed, officers have been quick to address them.

Voter in Mesopotamia Admits to Selling Vote

As Belizeans cast their ballots in the 2025 general elections, reports of vote-buying continue to surface. In an exclusive interview with News Five, one voter in the Mesopotamia division openly admitted to receiving money in exchange for his vote.

Speaking outside polling station number 14, the voter confirmed that this was his first time voting. When asked why he participated in the election, he stated bluntly, “I just come and collect and thing.”

He said he received $100 from both sides. “I dont know about anybody else but that is what thye have to do for me to come out and vote and try to get something. I just get a hundred from each party because i have to collect, as I said.”

He was unsure if other voters in the area had similar experiences. When questioned about whether he believed his vote held any significance beyond financial gain, he responded affirmatively, stating that people often ask for assistance and that this was one way to receive something in return.

Voters Arriving from Melchor in Cayo West

In the first two hours of voting, 943 ballots were cast across multiple polling areas in Cayo West, representing 12.3% of registered voters.

Polling area 83 recorded 460 voters, while polling area 84 in San Jose Succotz saw 132 voters. In polling area 82, 260 individuals had cast their ballots, and Calla Creek recorded 16 voters. In Arenal, 75 voters contributed to the overall total.

Notably, a significant number of voters were observed arriving from Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. Many of these individuals, some arriving in groups of two to five every 15 minutes, are recognized within the community, raising questions about cross-border voter participation in the electoral process.

Objections to Voter Eligibility Cause Early Chaos in Cayo North

As the 2025 General Elections progress, Lennox Nicholson, the Returning Officer for Cayo North, provided an update on voter turnout and ongoing challenges at polling stations in the constituency.

Cayo North, which comprises polling stations in San Ignacio and Bullet Tree, saw an active start to the voting process. “Over 500 ballots were cast here in San Ignacio, while about 180 votes were recorded in Bullet Tree,” Nicholson stated. He noted that the atmosphere has been consistently busy with a steady flow of voters throughout the day.

However, the process has not been without challenges. Nicholson confirmed that there have been multiple objections raised regarding certain voters. What has happened is that we have been having to deal with this particular situation where there have been objections yes to ballots being issued to many voters. Right. So what what I have been doing is working with my presiding officers to note the objections and to put them, give them a briefing as to how to deal with these objections and trying to make sure that they know how to treat with it throughout the rest of the day,” he explained.

When asked whether these objections were related to the 124 voters previously challenged by UDP candidate Omar Figueroa, Nicholson acknowledged the connection. “There are objections being made on the bases that there are some court matters.”

“Our remit is to manage the process and allow every single voter in that voting list to get a ballot. So they are being allowed to vote. Since they have raised objections we are documenting those objections meticulously.”

“In the first hour it was absolutely chaotic because we were being bombarded with these objections.”

Nicholson assured that election officers have now streamlined the process.

He urged all registered voters in Cayo North to participate in the election.

Early Voter Turnout Trends Across Belize as General Elections Underway

As of 8:50 a.m., the Elections and Boundaries Department reported voter turnout across 29 of the 31 electoral divisions. The divisions of Pickstock and Fort George are not included in the count, as the People’s United Party (PUP) has already secured victory in those areas. This means the official online tally reflects 197,018 registered voters, though the total number of registered electors nationwide stands at 204,378.

Collet recorded the highest turnout so far at 13.88%, followed by Cayo South at 12.51% and Mesopotamia at 12.12%. Other notable divisions include Freetown at 10.48%, Lake Independence at 10.12%, and Queen’s Square at 9.77%. Belize Rural North saw 9.49%, while Toledo West stood at 8.57%. In the Orange Walk District, North recorded 8.10%, Central 6.97%, and East 3.63%. Cayo North registered 8.00%, Central 6.85%, North East 6.28%, and West 5.36%. Corozal Bay stood at 7.46%, South East at 6.77%, South West at 4.97%, and North at 4.17%. Belmopan reported 6.11%, while Caribbean Shores had 5.95%, Belize Rural South 5.07%, and Belize Rural Central 4.29%. Other divisions included Port Loyola at 4.39%, Orange Walk South at 4.34%, Stann Creek West at 2.65%, Toledo East at 2.61%, and Dangriga at 1.42%. Albert had not reported any turnout at the time of the update.

A total of 12,431 ballots have been cast so far. The gender breakdown of voters shows 48.71% male and 51.29% female participation. Voting is taking place at 484 polling stations nationwide. These figures are continuously being updated, and there may be delays in reporting.