Elections in Guatemala: 2018 National Referendum
On April 15, a national referendum will be held, asking Guatemalan citizens if they agree with taking a territorial dispute with Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague.
The long-standing dispute over territories has caused hostilities between Belize and Guatemala, and the referendum is the latest effort to reach a settlement. The two countries made several attempts to resolve the issue in the past but failed to find a lasting solution that is satisfactory to both parties and agreed that taking the case to ICJ is the best way to attain a final resolution.
To help you understand this important electoral process, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Elections in Guatemala: 2018 National Referendum. IFES FAQs include:
- What is the significance of having a referendum on the border dispute with Belize? Why is the referendum necessary?
- How much public interest is there on this issue?
- What provisions are in place to promote the equal participation of women?
- How does the Supreme Electoral Tribunal use social media to connect with voters?