During his visit to Spanish Book Fair and Literary Festival (LéaLA), In Los Angeles, California, Consultant Claudia Zavala participated in the forum “Jalisco Voices from Abroad, Challenges of Participation of Jalisco Residents in the 2024 Elections” in the 2023 edition, as part of the program of alternative forums and citizen participation organized by the Electoral Institute (IEPC) of Jalisco.
In her participation, Advisor Zavala noted that the INE faces the challenge of consolidating the right to vote for Mexicans abroad, and one of them is to create the possibility for residents abroad to have the right to vote for their deputies and federal deputies for to vote for national representation, as it is not possible today to vote for these candidates.
The second challenge, he noted, is the authorization to vote with photography, which is the key to the exercise of all political electoral rights, which is why the INE works hand in hand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SER) headquarters. Consular offices to further refine institutional relationships, particularly in obtaining the mica and collaborating with residents abroad in establishing citizenship.
He acknowledged that “This is the biggest challenge because without a credential you cannot exercise any of the political and electoral rights.“For this reason, work is being increased to facilitate the flow of communication and thus facilitate this process. We also have the support of organizations such as the Association of Jaliscienses Unidos en Acción (AJUA).
The adviser emphasized that the deadline for Mexicans living abroad to process their eligibility to vote is February 20 and participate in the elections on June 2, 2024.
A third challenge, emphasized Zavala Pérez, will be the implementation of the voting modalities for compatriots, who can do so by mail, online and in person. Registration is now possible via the website www.votoextranjero.mx.
He pointed out that this is the first time that voting will be done in this way, including for people residing in Mexico who will be in another part of the world on election day: “With your voter ID card issued in Mexico, you can cast your vote in one of the Mexican consulates.“.
Advisor Zavala also participated as an honorary witness, together with the President of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation (TEPJF), Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón, in the signing of the agreement between the Association of Jaliscienses Unidos en Acción (AJUA) and the IEPC Jalisco, to join the effort to spread the voice of the people of Jalisco abroad
Paula Ramírez Höhne, President of the Electoral Institute and Citizen Participation of Jalisco, also attended the forum; Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón, President of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Federation and Yanet Navarro of the Association of Jaliciences Unidos en Acción (AJUA).
