General Information
Guatemala: Referendum, 15 April 2018
At stake in this referendum:
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Voters will decide whether to resolve Guatemala's territorial dispute with Belize through the International Court of Justice.
Description of government structure:
- Chief of State: President Jimmy MORALES
- Head of Government: President Jimmy MORALES
- Assembly: Guatemala has a unicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) with 158 seats.
Electoral requirements:
- There are three ways a referendum can be initiated and then put to a vote in Guatemala. Citizens' Initiatives require the signatures of at least 5% of registered voters, legislative referenda must receive the support of 2/3 of the Legislative Assembly, and executive referenda must receieve a simple majority of Legislative Assembly members. All three kinds require a popular vote to pass. If the referendum is an amendment to the constitution, it must pass both chambers of the Legislative Assembly after passing a popular vote.
About the referendum:
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The referendum requires a simple majority to pass in Guatemala. If the referendum passes, Belize will hold a similar vote. The referendum depends on both countries agreeing to abide by the judgment of the International Court of Justice, and would have force only if Belize passes a referendum of their own.
Main provisions in the referendum:
Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determines finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the parties?
Population and number of registered voters:
- Population: 14,647,083 (2014 est.)
- Registered Voters: 7,556,873 (2015)
Gender Data:
- Female Population: 7,423,314 (2014 est.)
- Is Guatemala a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (8 June 1981)
- Has Guatemala ratified CEDAW: Yes (12 August 1982)
- Gender Quota: No
- Female Candidates in this election: Yes
- Number of Female Legislators: 21 (13%) of 158 seats in the Congress of the Republic
- Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 125
- Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium
Disability Data:
- Is Guatemala a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
- Has Guatemala ratified CRPD: Yes (7 April 2009)
- Population with a disability: 2,156,021