This year’s Mexican election will be one of the most significant in the country’s history, especially because the ability to cast absentee ballots has become more accessible to Mexican citizens living in other countries. This year, more than 181,000 Mexicans living abroad have registered to vote and participate in Mexico’s democracy.
Eligible voters were first allowed to vote via absentee ballot in Mexican elections in 2006, and have continued to do so with each election. The number of participants registered to vote in the general elections has increased by approximately 400 percent nationally compared with previous elections. Mexico City, the source of 15 percent of Mexican constituents living abroad, has seen a 231 percent increase in registered absentee voters. The significance of these numbers lies in the fact that many Mexican citizens abroad understand the importance of their vote to their country’s democracy and are increasingly willing to participate.
There are a number of factors that can explain the increase in registered absentee voters. Programs like #VotoChilango, created by the Mexico City Electoral Institute, promote civic engagement and represent a massive effort to strengthen Mexico’s democratic process and build trust between citizens and authorities. The increases in absentee voters native to Mexico City, Jalisco and Guanajuato are testaments to the success of these programs.
The absentee voting process has expanded since its inception in 2006. Initially, Mexicans living abroad could only vote in the presidential election. Now, as was established in the 2014 electoral reform, Mexicans abroad can vote for senators and governors in select states. This election, Mexicans registered as absentee voters will have received two ballot papers: one to elect a president and the other to elect senators. Additionally, citizens from Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico City, Morelos, Puebla and Yucatan will receive a third ballot to vote for governor.
Another factor that has led to greater absentee voter registration is the fact that Mexican citizens are now able obtain their voter credentials abroad. Beginning in February 2016, eligible voters could obtain their electoral identification at any Mexican consulate or embassy instead of returning to Mexico. This has increased the pool of potential voters, with 1 in 5 absentee voters obtaining their credentials outside of Mexico. This policy reduced barriers to voting, and will enable more citizens to participate in upcoming elections.
The participation of absentee voters abroad not only strengthens Mexican democracy, but also presents an opportunity for those who left the country to continue to play an active role in taking care of the family, friends and communities they left behind. This gives the electoral process a new face, and keeps communities together despite geographic distances.
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Commentary: For Mexico’s Elections, Voting While Abroad Is Easier originally appeared on usnews.com
