General Election, 11 November 2020

Hurricane Eta, November 2020 

The rains caused by Hurricane Eta first affected Belize on 3 November 2020 and increased in intensity from 12 to 13 November. With maximum rainfalls of 50 cm, this resulted in severe flooding which affected more than 40 communities across Belize, mainly among the Mopan, Macal, Belize, and Sibun rivers (IFRC 2021; Pasch et al. 2021). An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people are thought to have been affected by the flooding with damage to property, utilities, farms, and road infrastructure. Power lines were also breached by the water, temporarily cutting off electricity to the West and Central areas of Belize. Hurricane Eta’s effects further added to the vulnerabilities caused by Covid-19 (IFRC 2021; UNICEF 2020; McLeod 2020). 

Impact on the electoral process  

The floods caused extensive damage to roads and other transport infrastructure used by polling staff and voters. Some polling stations were also used as shelters for those seeking refuge from the floods (teleSUR 2020). 

In one case, a polling station was relocated due to a bridge collapse (McLeod 2020). The Caribbean Community election observation mission did not note any further disturbances to election day, and the voting process was conducted smoothly (CARICOM 2020). 

Because the election took place during a period when Covid-19 infections were increasing, several additional health and safety measures were introduced in polling stations (Aljazeera 2020).  

The voter turnout was 81.4 per cent (Elections and Boundaries Dept n.d.b); in the 2015 general election it had been 72.7 per cent (Elections and Boundaries Dept n.d.a).