How to vote abroad in Mexico’s elections
Voting in Mexico’s elections abroad is not that complicated, and it will be key that you understand your alternatives.
It is worth remembering that on June 2, 2024, more than 100 million Mexicans are called to the general elections.
Voting in Mexico’s elections abroad could define 20,375 positions, of which 19,746 are local and 629 are federal.
And of course, voting in Mexico’s elections abroad includes the decision to elect the Presidency of the Republic.
This year, everything points to Mexico having its first woman president, as two women are leading the polls.
In the general elections, not only people living in Mexico will be able to vote, but also Mexican citizens living abroad.
But, how to vote in Mexico’s elections abroad is not complex at all.
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Redesign of the system
In 2014, the year in which the electoral regime was redesigned and the National Electoral Institute (INE) was created, a new reform was made so that Mexicans abroad could also elect senators and governors in their states of origin, a right they exercised in the 2018 federal election.
According to the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, as of the 2021 report, there are approximately 12.14 million Mexicans who reported or are known to live abroad.
Of these, about 97% reside in the United States. Although not all of them are of legal age, not all of them have participated in elections.
In the 2006 presidential election, 32,621 Mexicans abroad participated; in the 2012 election, 40,714 votes were received.
The 2018 election had the highest participation with 98,470 votes from Mexicans abroad.
It is worth noting that 45% of the citizens eligible to vote from abroad did not do so in the last federal electoral process.
Read more: THE NYT LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO.
How to vote abroad in Mexico’s elections
As of February 25, INE received a total of 226,661 applications from Mexicans abroad to register in the Nominal List in order to vote in Mexico’s elections abroad.
Some 53.27% are men and 46.72% are women. Most of them are people older than 53 years old, according to the last INE’s latest cut-off.
Of the total, 22.93% asked to vote by mail; 69.86% preferred electronic voting; and only 7.20% voted in person.
Mexicans will be able to vote in Mexico’s elections abroad in 2024 for the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, the senate, the office of head of government of Mexico City and the governorships of the states of Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla and Yucatán.
All Mexicans over 18 years of age residing outside the country may vote, as long as they have a valid voting card.
You can check if the credential is valid at Listanominal.ine.mx by entering its data.
You can also request a new credential without having to travel to Mexico. Since October 2023 it is no longer necessary to make an appointment, so you can go to the consulate at any time with the necessary documents.
You must present a nationality document that proves that you are Mexican, such as a passport, high security consular registration, among others, and also a proof of address abroad.
Three ways to vote in Mexico’s elections abroad
The vote of Mexicans began in 2006 with the sending of their suffrage via certified mail. But this 2024 there will be three ways to participate:
Via postal mail. In the first week of May 2024 you will receive at your home the electoral package that includes the electoral ballots and the instructions. The ballots must be returned to Mexico no later than June 1, 2024.
Electronic voting by Internet. Before May 3, 2024, you will receive by e-mail the access codes to the Electronic Voting System by Internet, which you will be able to use starting on May 18.
In-person voting. For the first time you will be able to vote in person on June 2, 2024 at 23 consular offices in four countries, where Vote Receiving Modules will be installed.
In the United States there will be modules at consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New Brunswick, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle and Washington.
In Canada, Mexicans can vote at the consulate in Montreal; in Spain, in Madrid; and in France, in Paris.
