PUP Wins Amidst Historic Low Voter Turnout

Belize’s March 12 general election delivered a decisive victory for the People’s United Party (PUP) but the country saw the lowest voter turnout since independence, with only 64.97% of eligible voters casting ballots—a sharp decline from 2020’s 81.86%.

Political analysts cite voter apathy as the primary reason, with many disillusioned voters believing their ballot “wouldn’t make a difference,” particularly amid the fractured state of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). The divided UDP, reduced to just five parliamentary seats, struggled to mobilize its base.

This year’s turnout falls well below previous elections. The next lowest was 1993, with 71.6%, while the highest turnout occurred in 2003 at 90.14%. Comparatively, 2020 saw a robust 81.86% participation, reflecting greater engagement in the last election cycle.

Over the nine elections between 1984 and 2020, the average turnout was 76.98%. This week's turnout is more than 12 percentage points below the average.

The PUP’s stronghold remains intact, securing a dominant position in the House, while the UDP’s leadership crisis deepens following Moses “Shyne” Barrow’s resignation as party leader. With voter confidence at a historic low, both parties now face the challenge of re-engaging the electorate.