View source for 1979 Belizean general election

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Belize
| flag_image = Flag_of_Belize_(1950-1981).svg
| type = parliamentary
| turnout = 89.78%
| previous_election = 1974 Belizean general election
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1984 Belizean general election
| next_year = 1984
| seats_for_election = All 18 seats in the [[House of Representatives (Belize)|House of Representatives]]
| election_date = 21 November 1979

| image1 = George Cadle Price.jpg
| leader1 = [[George Cadle Price]]
| party1 = People's United Party
| last_election1 = 12 seats
| seats1 = 13
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 1
| popular_vote1 = '''23,309'''
| percentage1 = '''52.44%'''
| swing1 = {{decrease}} 0.26pp

| image2 = {{Eppt|United Democratic Party (Belize)}}
| leader2 = [[Dean Lindo]]
| party2 = United Democratic Party (Belize)
| last_election2 = 6 seats
| seats2 = 5
| seat_change2 = {{decrease}} 1
| popular_vote2 = 21,045
| percentage2 = 47.35%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 8.47pp

| map_image = Belize general election 1979 - Results by Constituency.svg
| map_caption = Results by constituency

| title = Premier
| before_election = [[George Cadle Price]]
| after_election = [[George Cadle Price]]
| before_party = People's United Party
| after_party = People's United Party

}}{{Politics of Belize}}

General elections were held in [[Belize]] on 21 November 1979.<ref name=DN>[[Dieter Nohlen]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p104 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}}</ref> The result was a victory for the ruling [[People's United Party]], which won 13 of the 18 seats. Voter turnout was 90%.<ref name=DN/><ref name="nineteen79">[https://elections.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GENERAL-ELECTIONS-1979.pdf General Elections 1979] [[Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission]]. (accessed 19 November 2014)</ref>

==Background==
The PUP went into the election with a 13–5 majority, having picked up a seat after the previous election when [[Toledo District]] Area Rep. [[Vicente Choco]] [[Crossing the floor|crossed the floor]] from the opposition [[United Democratic Party (Belize)|United Democratic Party]] in 1975.<ref name="amandala">Ramos, Adele. [http://amandala.com.bz/news/bombshell-mahmud-resigns/ "Bombshell: Mahmud resigns!"], ''[[Amandala]]'', 25 November 2014. (accessed 4 December 2014)</ref> The election results confirmed that 13-5 majority.

In 1979, Belizeans were concerned about their progress toward independence and the [[Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute|Guatemalan claim to the colony]]. The UDP were not in favour of advancing on the former issue without a substantial settlement of the latter, and this led the PUP to turn the election into a sort of referendum on that question. By their turnout (a record high) and their support for the PUP, Belizeans made clear their preferences and set in motion the chain of events that would lead to independence in 1981.

==Results==
Although the popular vote total was close, the PUP won a supermajority of seats due to the [[first-past-the-post voting]] system.{{Election results
|party1=[[People's United Party]]|votes1=23309|seats1=13|sc1=+1
|party2=[[United Democratic Party (Belize)|United Democratic Party]]|votes2=21045|seats2=5|sc2=–1
|party3=[[Toledo Progressive Party]]|votes3=96|seats3=0|sc3=New
|total_sc=0
|invalid=521
|electorate=50091
|source=[https://elections.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GENERAL-ELECTIONS-1979.pdf Elections and Boundaries Department]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Belizean elections}}

[[Category:1979 elections in Central America|Belize]]
[[Category:General elections in Belize]]
[[Category:1979 in Belize|General]]
[[Category:1979 elections in the Caribbean|Belize]]
[[Category:1979 elections in the British Empire|Belize]]


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