At stake in this election:

• 29 seats in the House of Representatives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA
• Assembly: Belize has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 12 seats and the House of Representatives with 29 seats.

* Queen ELIZABETH II is represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr.

Description of electoral system:

• The Queen is N/A N/A.
• In the Senate 12 members are appointed by the governor-general to serve 5-year terms. In the House of Representatives 29 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: People's United Party (PUP)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 22
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 26
• Party: United Democratic Party (UDP)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 7
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 3

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 262,299 ( 2002 est.)
• Registered Voters: 126,261 ( 2003 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 133,752 (2003)

·         Is Belize a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (7 March 1990)

·         Has Belize ratified CEDAW: Yes (16 May 1990)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 2 (following 2003 election)

·         Human Development Index Position: 101 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Belize a signatory to CRPD: Yes (9 May 2011)

·         Has Belize ratified CRPD: Yes (2 June 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 39,344 (est.)