With municipal elections just over two weeks away, political parties across the country are preparing for the first big step before the electorates go to the polls. The first big show of strength will take place on Nomination Day, which has been set by the Governor General of Belize for Wednesday February 11th. The Elections and Boundaries Department, the legal body that will take charge of the nomination and election process, have been meeting with the political parties to educate them about the process.
According to Election’s Presiding Officer for San Pedro Town, Colin Griffith, they have met with the political parties on Ambergris Caye where the general rules and procedures for Nomination Day and Election Day has been discussed. That meeting took place at the Magistrate Court in San Pedro on January 28th.
For Nomination Day, The People’s United Party (PUP) will be allowed the hours of 10AM and midday to be nominated. From midday to 2PM, any independent or third party candidates will be allowed for nomination. Meanwhile the United Democratic Party (UDP) has been allowed from 2PM to 4PM to be nominated. Griffith said that political representatives on the island have agreed to that format in their first meeting. He also indicated that boundaries and other rules for Election’s Day have also been agreed upon. 
By law, each candidate seeking office must be nominated by two registered voters within the municipality. Their nomination application must be accompanied by $25.00. It is up until Nomination Day that a person officially becomes a candidate for the upcoming election. Both the PUP and the UDP has announced their full slate. The Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) is yet to announce their slate even though they have indicated that they intend to put up a full slate in the elections in San Pedro Town.
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