OAS to Observe Belize’s March 12 Election

For the fourth time, the Organization of American States (OAS) will be deploying an Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) for the March 12 general elections.

Maricarmen Plata, a senior OAS official, has been appointed as the mission’s chief.

The team is comprised of 12 observers from seven countries and “will focus its observation on electoral organisation and technology, political-electoral financing, and electoral justice.”

“Ahead of the polls, the Chief of Mission, along with the OAS team, will meet with electoral authorities, representatives of political parties, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss perspectives on the electoral process,” the OAS said. “On election day, members of the mission will visit polling stations from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes and the publication of results.”

The OAS added that post-election, it will release a preliminary report outlining its observations and recommendations aimed at strengthening Belize’s democratic and electoral practices.

Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, and Panama are supporting this mission financially.