Belize's 6 districts are politically divided into 31 constituencies. Each constituency sends one representative to Belize's House of Representatives for 5-year terms. This election is known as the General Election. Each person (who is eligible to vote) votes for the candidate they would want to represent their constituency in Central Government.
Each political party nominates a candidate or Standard Bearer for each constituency. The winner becomes the Area Representative of the constituency, while the loser generally remains the Standard Bearer of that constituency for his/her political party.
Belize's constituencies are divided in 31, such a way that their voting population be as equal as possible to each other ensuring, theoretically, that resources are equally shared among the country's citizens, as required by the constitution. After the 2003 General Elections two additional constituencies were created from territory of existing constituencies in order to further ensure the equality of the voting populations among the constituencies. Coming out of January 2008, the most populous constituency (Stann Creek West) had a voting population of 7,085 while the least populous constituency (Fort George) had a voting population of 3,195.[1]
New constituencies
In Belize's 2003 General Elections, 29 constituencies voted in their Area Representatives for Belize's House of Representatives. Since then it was noted that the difference in voting populations between the most and least populous constituencies was rather large (Cayo South then had 8,000 voters compared to Pickstock's 1000+). In 2004 a Task Force was appointed by the Elections and Boundaries Commission to study the matter. Their was submitted in October 2004. It is noted that the Elections and Boundaries Department has the right to occasionally reassess constituencies, usually after the latest census or population estimate.
Among several things that their report suggested, the expansion of the Cayo District's number of constituencies to six (from four) had the most impact. Later the following year (2005) the law was passed to create two additional constituencies within the boundaries of Cayo. The newly created constituencies are Belmopan, containing the capital city of that name, and Cayo North East, centered on Spanish Lookout.
These new constituencies held their first-ever election during the General Election in 2008.
List of Belize's constituencies by district
Below are the Districts and their respective constituencies:
Below is a list of the voting population by constituency as of March 2015, sorted out by districts for ease of reference.
Note that these populations are for Belizean citizens who are eligible to vote and does not represent actual population. As of March 2015 the voting population of Belize is estimated at 148,026 while the total population is estimated at 301,300.
The Voter Age Population (VAP), i.e. all persons over the age of eighteen, is 161,677, or 53.66% of the total population. Of these, more than 91 percent are actually registered. Males slightly outnumber females in the population, though the gap is noticeable in the larger urban areas such as Belize City, home to 10 constituencies.
Below is the chronological order for the creation of Belize's current constituencies.
1954
The following were the nine original constituencies created for the British Honduras Legislative Assembly:
Belize District: Belize North, Belize Rural, Belize South, Belize West
Cayo District: Cayo
Corozal District: Corozal
Orange Walk District: Orange Walk
Stann Creek District: Stann Creek
Toledo District: Toledo
1961
In a major nationwide redistricting, all of the previous constituencies were abolished and replaced with the following, doubling the total number of constituencies to 18:
constituencies, belize, belize, districts, politically, divided, into, constituencies, each, constituency, sends, representative, belize, house, representatives, year, terms, this, election, known, general, election, each, person, eligible, vote, votes, candid. Belize s 6 districts are politically divided into 31 constituencies Each constituency sends one representative to Belize s House of Representatives for 5 year terms This election is known as the General Election Each person who is eligible to vote votes for the candidate they would want to represent their constituency in Central Government Each political party nominates a candidate or Standard Bearer for each constituency The winner becomes the Area Representative of the constituency while the loser generally remains the Standard Bearer of that constituency for his her political party Constituencies of Belize Contents 1 Division of constituencies 2 New constituencies 3 List of Belize s constituencies by district 4 Voting population by constituency 5 Current Area Representatives 6 History 7 See also 8 ReferencesDivision of constituencies EditBelize s constituencies are divided in 31 such a way that their voting population be as equal as possible to each other ensuring theoretically that resources are equally shared among the country s citizens as required by the constitution After the 2003 General Elections two additional constituencies were created from territory of existing constituencies in order to further ensure the equality of the voting populations among the constituencies Coming out of January 2008 the most populous constituency Stann Creek West had a voting population of 7 085 while the least populous constituency Fort George had a voting population of 3 195 1 New constituencies EditIn Belize s 2003 General Elections 29 constituencies voted in their Area Representatives for Belize s House of Representatives Since then it was noted that the difference in voting populations between the most and least populous constituencies was rather large Cayo South then had 8 000 voters compared to Pickstock s 1000 In 2004 a Task Force was appointed by the Elections and Boundaries Commission to study the matter Their Final Report was submitted in October 2004 It is noted that the Elections and Boundaries Department has the right to occasionally reassess constituencies usually after the latest census or population estimate Among several things that their report suggested the expansion of the Cayo District s number of constituencies to six from four had the most impact Later the following year 2005 the law was passed to create two additional constituencies within the boundaries of Cayo The newly created constituencies are Belmopan containing the capital city of that name and Cayo North East centered on Spanish Lookout These new constituencies held their first ever election during the General Election in 2008 List of Belize s constituencies by district EditBelow are the Districts and their respective constituencies Belize District Albert Belize Rural Central Belize Rural North Belize Rural South Caribbean Shores Collet Fort George Freetown Lake Independence Mesopotamia Pickstock Port Loyola Queen s Square Cayo District Belmopan Cayo Central Cayo North Cayo North East Cayo South Cayo West Corozal District Corozal Bay Corozal North Corozal South East Corozal South West Orange Walk District Orange Walk Central Orange Walk East Orange Walk North Orange Walk South Stann Creek District Dangriga Stann Creek West Toledo District Toledo East Toledo WestVoting population by constituency EditBelow is a list of the voting population by constituency as of March 2015 sorted out by districts for ease of reference Note that these populations are for Belizean citizens who are eligible to vote and does not represent actual population As of March 2015 the voting population of Belize is estimated at 148 026 while the total population is estimated at 301 300 The Voter Age Population VAP i e all persons over the age of eighteen is 161 677 or 53 66 of the total population Of these more than 91 percent are actually registered Males slightly outnumber females in the population though the gap is noticeable in the larger urban areas such as Belize City home to 10 constituencies District Constituency Total Nationwide Rank District RankBelize Albert 3072 30th 12thBelize Rural Central 4511 21st 4thBelize Rural North 4578 20th 3rdBelize Rural South 5159 13th 1stCaribbean Shores 4291 23rd 5thCollet 3637 26th 8thFort George 3047 31st 13thFreetown 3452 27th 9thLake Independence 4925 18th 2ndMesopotamia 3170 28th 10thPickstock 3166 29th 11thPort Loyola 3890 24th 6thQueen s Square 3862 25th 7thCayo Belmopan 5667 5th 2ndCayo Central 5923 3rd 1stCayo North 5015 17th 5thCayo North East 4413 22nd 6thCayo South 5468 8th 4thCayo West 5378 10th 3rdCorozal Corozal Bay 5100 16th 3rdCorozal North 5108 15th 2ndCorozal South East 5190 12th 1stCorozal South West 4869 19th 4thOrange Walk Orange Walk Central 5727 4th 2ndOrange Walk East 5443 9th 4thOrange Walk North 6011 2nd 1stOrange Walk South 5575 6th 3rdStann Creek Dangriga 5114 14th 2ndStann Creek West 6470 1st 1stToledo Toledo East 5473 7th 1stToledo West 5324 11th 2ndNational 31 148 026 Avg Voters per constituency 4775Current Area Representatives EditMain article House of Representatives of BelizeHistory EditBelow is the chronological order for the creation of Belize s current constituencies 1954 The following were the nine original constituencies created for the British Honduras Legislative Assembly Belize District Belize North Belize Rural Belize South Belize West Cayo District Cayo Corozal District Corozal Orange Walk District Orange Walk Stann Creek District Stann Creek Toledo District Toledo 1961 In a major nationwide redistricting all of the previous constituencies were abolished and replaced with the following doubling the total number of constituencies to 18 Belize District Albert Belize Rural North Belize Rural South Collet Fort George Freetown Mesopotamia Pickstock Cayo District Cayo North Cayo South Corozal District Corozal North Corozal South Orange Walk District Orange Walk North Orange Walk South Stann Creek District Stann Creek Town Stann Creek Rural Toledo District Toledo North Toledo South 1973 British Honduras officially renamed Belize The British Honduras Legislative Assembly becomes the Belize House of Representatives 1979 The following were renamed Stann Creek District Stann Creek Town renamed Dangriga Stann Creek Rural renamed Stann Creek West 2 1984 The following constituencies were created Belize District Caribbean Shores Lake Independence Queen s Square Port Loyola Cayo District Cayo Central Cayo West Corozal District Corozal Bay Orange Walk District Orange Walk Central Orange Walk East The following were altered Corozal District Corozal South was split into Corozal South East and Corozal South West Toledo District Toledo North and Toledo South were abolished replaced by Toledo East and Toledo West 1993 The following constituency was created Belize District Belize Rural Central 2008 The following constituencies were created Cayo District Belmopan Cayo North EastSee also EditPolitics of Belize Districts of BelizeReferences Edit January 2008 Estimate Archived 2008 02 08 at the Wayback Machine General Elections 1979 Archived 2018 05 13 at the Wayback Machine Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission accessed 19 November 2014 Belize Elections amp Boundaries Department s Map of Belize s Constituencies Government of Belize s Official Website Boundary Re districting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Constituencies of Belize amp oldid 1075945124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
