 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | May 2005 
Mexicans Living Abroad Gain the Right to Vote
 Luz Peña - Vida en el Valle
Mexico City - The Mexican Senate has voted with 91 votes in favor of allowing Mexicans living abroad the right to vote.
The lower house of Congress had until April 30 to approve the legislation to give them a right to vote by absentee ballots for Mexicans living outside of México. Although the outcome by Congress is still unclear, many of Mexico's citizens are still hopeful.
Senator Silvia Hernández, of the political party PRI, told Notimex that México is a country of immigrants and it was time to realize “this is not going to diminish or change things for the time being.”
“Mexico has lost two million people in recent years, and 10 years from now, one out of 10 Mexicans will have decided to leave the country to look for jobs abroad,” said Hernández.
Many nationalists from the San Joaquín Valley waited with anticipation for the lower house of Congress to approve the law. Last week a group of supporters stood in front of the Mexican Consul to demand their right to vote abroad.
Nayamín Martínez of Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) said the gathering was one of many done by organizations throughout the United States to put pressure on the Mexican government to sign the legislation.
“We only have until April 30 until the Congress goes on vacation until September.” she said. “This is an issue that's been around since 1988. This has to be resolved now.”
Some of the critics of the law said voting by mail-in ballots could infringe on privacy or lead to fraud. But for many, this is the best solution because it would cost more than $26 million to install voting booths and employ poll workers.
Armando Rodríguez, a member of IME advisory committee, said this is an imperfect solution but it's a step in the right direction.
“I'm glad they were able to work out something. The alternative was no vote at all because they don't have the bucks as much as they would like to push it. They found a solution. It's a step in the right direction,” said Rodríguez. “It's a foot in the door. It gives people an opportunity to vote and maybe next time, they'll find it within their budget to do it the other way. They don't have the staff at the consulado. Adding two employees, at 47 consulados comes out to sizable bucks.”
Rodríguez said this is not the end and they will continue the fight until Mexicans are able to vote in various ways similar to the United States.
The Mexican Consulate in Fresno sent out a press release stating, “Mexicans, who have decided to use their right to vote in the Mexican presidential elections, should have already been registered to vote in Mexico and have proof they're registered to vote” by way of a voter's credential card.
Between Oct. 1, 2005 and Jan. 15, 2006, those interested should send a written notice to the Federal Elections Institute (IFE, their name in Spanish) of their intentions of voting, soliciting their registration on the nominal list of foreign voters, which will place them on a list of voters who are living outside of Mexico.
Those interested should send, by certified mail, their solicitation, a photocopy of their voter's credential card and a document that shows their current residence abroad and written authorization for IFE to mail their mail-in ballot.
“I know we're asking for so little but it's a start,” said Rufino Domínguez. “It's a necessity and it should be valid.”
After the registration deadline, all solicitations will be sent to the IFE headquarters on Feb. 15, 2006.
Bernando Bretado from the Unión de Exbraceros e Inmigrantes del Valle de San Joaquín said the union agreed with FIOB and they, too, demanded their right to vote.
“It's our right,” said Bretado. “They have to commit to this.”
lpena@vidaenelvalle.com |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us