Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “candidate” means a person who is nominated as a candidate at an election or is declared by himself to be or acts as a candidate for election to any seat in the House of Representatives; “Central Register” means the register to electors established under the provisions of this Act; “Chief Elections Officer” means the person responsible for the registration of electors and the conduct of elections in accordance with the provisions of this Act, appointed under section 10; means the and Commission established in accordance with section 88 of the Belize Constitution,; “district” means a judicial district established under the Inferior Courts Act; “division” means an electoral division specified in Schedule I to this Act; REVISED EDITION 2018 9 “divisional register” means the register for the time being in force in respect of a division; “divisional representative” means a person duly elected to represent a division in the House of Representatives; “duly registered” means registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act; “election” means an election for the purpose of electing a member of the House of Representatives, and includes a general “election officer” includes the Chief Elections Officer, an Assistant Chief Elections Officer, a registering officer, a revising officer, a returning officer, an election clerk, a presiding officer, a poll clerk, a counting clerk, and any other person having a duty to perform under this Act, to the faithful performance of which duty he has sworn or affirmed; “elector” in relation to an election, means a person who pursuant to this Act has been registered as an elector to vote at the “electoral division” means an electoral division specified in Schedule I to this Act; “form” means the form applicable to the circumstances and which is set out in Schedule V to this Act; “general election” means the general election of divisional representatives after a dissolution of the House of Representatives; CAP. 4. “House of Representatives” means the House of Representatives constituted in accordance with the provisions of Part VI of the Belize Constitution,; “member” means a member of the House of Representatives; REVISED EDITION 2018 10 “Minister” means the Minister responsible for elections; “proper register” and “proper registering officer” means the register of electors for the electoral division in which the elector is qualified to vote, and the registering officer in charge of that register respectively; “public office” means any office of emolument in the public service; “public officer” means a person holding or acting in any public “public service” means the public service as defined in section 131 of the Belize Constitution,; “register” or “register of electors” means the register of electors for any particular electoral division; “Registrar” means the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Belize, and includes a deputy or other officer, authorised in that behalf; “signature” includes any mark or thumb impression; “voter” means a person who votes or applies to vote at an (2) Any reference to “this Act” shall where the context permits include a reference to any rules or regulations made thereunder. (3) Where any register, notice or other document is by or under this Act required to be published, it shall be done, in the absence of any provision in this Act to the contrary by– (a) publishing it in the Gazette; REVISED EDITION 2018 11 (b) making copies thereof available for inspection at the office of the Chief Elections Officer and that of the Registrar; (c) affixing such register, notice or other document to the court house or court houses in the district to which the register, notice or other document relates, or such other conspicuous place in that electoral division as the person publishing considers necessary; (d) advertising it in a newspaper circulating in the area to which such register, notice or other document relates, or by specifying in such an advertisement the places at which such register, notice or document is available for inspection; (e) placards or handbills; or (f) such manner approved by the Commission as the person publishing thinks is best calculated to afford information to the persons who should receive such information. (4) Where any act or thing is directed to be done within a specified time after “the date of the publication” of any register, notice or other document, that time shall be computed from the date on which the register, notice or other document is first published in any one of the methods set out in sub-section (3). (5) Residence in Belize means physical residence within the territorial limits of Belize as defined in section 1(2) of the Belize Constitution; and where the person is a registered voter his place of residence shall be taken to be the registered address against his name on the voters’ list or at such altered address as he may, by notice in writing, give to the Chief Elections Officer. REVISED EDITION 2018 12 Provided that a person shall not be regarded as residing outside the territorial limits of Belize if he is temporarily absent from the country– (a) on the service of the Government of Belize; (b) undergoing medical treatment certified by a registered medical practitioner in Belize or elsewhere to be essential to his health; or (c) and is bona fide pursuing a course of training or education. (6) Any person who is required under this Act to take an oath and who objects to being sworn and states as the ground of such objection either that he has no religious belief or that the taking of an oath is contrary to his religious belief, shall be permitted to make his solemn affirmation instead of taking an oath in all places and for all purposes where an oath is required and that affirmation shall have the same force and effect as if it had been an oath. dates.