By Omar Silva

Editor, National Perspective Bz DIGITAL 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City, 16th October 2024

Given Prime Minister Briceño's admission that both major political parties have engaged in voter registration fraud, it’s clear that urgent legislative reform is necessary to restore public confidence in Belize’s electoral process. If the Prime Minister is serious about tackling this issue, his government must prioritize implementing robust legislative mechanisms to address the loopholes and weaknesses that have allowed political actors to manipulate voter registration.

Recommended Legislative Mechanisms:

Mandatory Proof of Residency: The law must be amended to require verifiable proof of residency for all voter registrations. This should include:

Valid government-issued identification (ID card, passport).

Utility bills or rental agreements showing the individual’s name and address.

Any other official documents that establish residency, such as bank statements or tax documents.

This change would prevent the registration of voters at addresses where they do not actually reside and would require greater transparency in the registration process.

On-the-Ground Investigations by an Independent Body:

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) should be empowered to conduct random and independent investigations into suspicious voter registrations. This body must have the legal authority to:

Conduct unannounced inspections of addresses with a high number of registered voters.

Verify the authenticity of claimed residency through physical checks.

Cross-reference residency claims with other government databases.

Currently, this investigative power is either weak or not enforced, allowing fraudulent registrations to go unchecked.

Public Access to Voter Registration Data:

The government should introduce a publicly accessible, online voter registration database. This database would allow the general public to view voter lists by constituency, including addresses where voters are registered. Such transparency would:

Enable citizens to report suspicious registrations.

Act as a deterrent to political operatives engaging in fraudulent voter registration.

Mandatory Court Appearances for Challenged Registrations:

When voter registrations are challenged in court, both the voter and the homeowner or landlord should be required by law to appear in person and provide proof of residency. Courts must be empowered to demand verifiable documents, such as ID cards and utility bills, to confirm that the individuals actually live where they are registered.

This would prevent the current situation where landlords or individuals can falsely claim that large numbers of people reside at a single address without offering any evidence.

Strict Penalties for Fraudulent Registrations:

Both voters and political operatives involved in fraudulent registrations should face severe legal penalties. These penalties should include:

Significant fines.

Disqualification from holding public office for candidates found guilty of facilitating voter fraud.

Possible imprisonment for egregious violations.

Strengthening penalties will act as a strong deterrent and signal that voter registration fraud will no longer be tolerated.

Improved Oversight of Voter Transfer Periods:

Voter transfers during the July-August transfer period have long been a point of abuse by both political parties. The government should introduce tighter regulations on voter transfers, including:

• A shortened transfer period to limit the time available for manipulating voter rolls.
• Mandatory in-person verification for all voter transfers, including proof of residency at the new address.
• Increased monitoring by independent observers during the transfer period.
• Appointment of Independent Electoral Observers for Voter Registration: International election observers typically monitor elections, but the fraud occurs long before election day. Belize should invite independent electoral observers to monitor the voter registration process itself, especially during key transfer periods. This would help ensure that registration practices are fair and transparent.
• Clear Legal Framework for Challenging Registrations: The government must establish a clear legal process for challenging suspicious voter registrations. This should include:
• Setting reasonable deadlines for voter challenges to be resolved.
• Ensuring that courts have the authority to fully investigate claims of voter fraud, without being constrained by procedural technicalities like missing a deadline.

Conclusion:

The Prime Minister’s acknowledgment of widespread voter registration fraud represents a critical opportunity for meaningful electoral reform. However, admitting the problem is only the first step. If the government is serious about cleaning up the voter registration system, it must act decisively and implement these legislative mechanisms to ensure fair and transparent elections.

The people of Belize deserve a voter registration process that reflects the true will of the electorate, not one that is manipulated by those in power. It’s time to prioritize integrity in our electoral system and put an end to the abuse of voter registration for political gain.