Less than 60% voter turnout in 2021 Municipal Elections


Municipal elections were held across the country on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 and electors voted in nine municipalities for mayors and councilors. While the voter turnout it usually significantly lower than that of general elections, the low turnout was unprecedented. At the close of polls according to the latest unofficial data from the Elections and Boundaries website, there was some 56.6% turnout countrywide. In the Corozal municipality, where there was a simultaneous by-election that pitted Hilberto Campos and Elvia Vega-Samos, sister of the late David “Dido” Vega, each other, there was the highest percentage of voter turnout. They were able to mobilize some 72.45% of their electoral population. Following this percentage was San Pedro with 69.49%; coupled with the turnout in Belize City, where there was a low turnout of 46.38% and the lowest across the country, there was an overall turnout of 54.26% in the Belize district.
In Orange Walk, there wasn’t much a difference when compared to the turnout for the 2018 municipal elections when some 66% of the population cast ballots. There was a slight decrease and according to the unofficial E&B reports, around 61.61% of the electoral population went out to cast their ballots. In Cayo, there was an overall percentage of 54.1% comprised of Belmopan City with 53.84%, Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town with 62.01%, and San Ignacio Town with 51.73%. In Dangriga Town, there was a slight decrease from the 2018 municipal elections which saw a 55.83% voter turnout to 54.41% in 2021. Finally, in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, 59.41% voters turned out in 2018 whereas some 61.36% of the electoral population turned out in 2021.