An advocacy group says prisoners on remand and those serving sentences of less than 12 months have the right to vote and is calling on authorities to ensure they can cast ballots in the March 12 election.
Michelle Trapp Zuniga, managing member of the Justice for Human Project, contends that under Belize’s Constitution, as well as international agreements, eligible prisoners retain voting rights. Zuniga cited protections under the Mandela Rules, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which recognize voting as a fundamental right. She emphasized that the group is not advocating on behalf of any specific individual but rather for all eligible incarcerated persons to have their rights upheld.
The Justice for Human Project is urging the government to take concrete steps to facilitate the process, including providing clarity on the logistics of where and how prisoners will vote.
While underscoring that they are not representing any specific prisoner, Zuniga said the Election and Boundaries Commission’s attorney, in responding to them, had taken issue with their request lacking the names of specific prisoners. She stressed that they are calling for the right—in general—to be protected and proceeded to say that, in any event, the requested information is already available to the government through the Kolbe Foundation, which manages the country’s central prison, making the request unnecessary.
The organization has taken its concerns to CARICOM and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, arguing that the potential disenfranchisement of prisoners contradicts Belize’s commitment to democratic principles. The group warned that if the government does not ensure these prisoners can vote, it could be seen as a deliberate act of exclusion.
If voting access is denied, the group said it may pursue legal action after March 12, arguing that the law explicitly grants voting rights to persons on remand and those serving short sentences. The group maintains that court intervention is a last resort, but one it will explore if necessary.
Zuniga stressed that logistical solutions exist, including allowing prisoners to vote on-site at Kolbe Foundation or arranging secure transport to polling stations. She pointed out that these individuals are already under state supervision, meaning the government has the means to facilitate their participation in the electoral process. The Justice for Human Project asserts that authorities must act now to comply with the law and uphold the principles of democracy.
Comments