On June 4, more than 20,000 people from Coahuila and more than 50,000 from the State of Mexico who live in the United States and Canada will have the opportunity to vote in one of the four Mexican consulates where they will be installed for the first time. box to physically cast your vote.
This method is added to the postal vote and electronic vote that began to be implemented in previous electoral processes, leading the National Electoral Institute (INE) to believe that there will be millions of Mexicans who can cast their vote in the 2024 elections. Consular Office.
Despite the fact that one million 400 thousand Mexicans abroad have voting credentials, Roberto Velasco, undersecretary for North America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), recalled that only 98 thousand people voted in the 2018 federal elections, But in 2024 they will be able to cast their vote in consular offices, which is why the number of Mexicans exercising this political right is expected to increase.
“This is a big step forward because for the first time it will be possible to vote physically in consulates and this pilot program will allow us to learn and work effectively through 2024,” said the under-secretary.
In this regard, Electoral Consultant Claudia Zavala commented that this pilot program for the elections to the governments of Coahuila and the State of Mexico “will allow thousands and perhaps millions of people to participate in the 2024 elections to decide their public issue”. . Country.” ,
Although the INE does not yet have an estimate of how many Mexican citizens abroad can vote at the consular headquarters by 2024, Minister Zavala recognized that the three voting methods have great potential to increase, so this pilot program will continue to improve over the next year. will work for
During the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between INE and SRE, the Counselor pointed out that the consulates where polling stations will be set up on June 4 are located in Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas in the United States, as well as in Montreal Are. Consulate in Canada.
The office manager of the INE executive secretariat, Miguel Angel Patiño, explained that for the first time three methods of voting would be implemented, so “we will have the elements to move forward for a new design for the 2024 federal elections.”
Counselor Zavala pointed out that INE is responsible for the preparation of campaign materials, training officials and liaison with consular officers, as well as the installation and operation and supply of voting and electoral materials, in addition to the control of election materials and electronic equipment for security and identification . and voting in consulates.
While the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for facilitating access to physical space, furniture and electricity for supporting administrative procedures before officials abroad as well as operating the voting module and safeguarding computer assets. Planned drills for Election Day and logistical support before, during, and after Election Day.
