Background on the Institution and Candidates Involved
The Instituto Electoral de la Ciudad de México (IECM) is the electoral authority responsible for overseeing and ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in Mexico City. Recently, the IECM’s Comisión de Quejas (Complaints Commission) initiated three special sanctioning procedures and imposed precautionary measures against three candidates for the Mexico City Judicial Power. These actions were taken due to their alleged involvement in distributing prohibited campaign materials known as “acordeones.”
Who are the Candidates?
The candidates under investigation are Elihú “C.”, Gerardo “B.”, and Daniela Alejandra “L.”. They are also featured in the denounced materials.
The Nature of the Allegations
According to the IECM’s Comisión de Quejas, two of these cases stemmed from citizen complaints filed with the IECM. The third case was initiated based on monitoring conducted by the Unidad Técnica de Comunicación Social y Difusión, which detected possible coordinated distribution of unauthorized campaign materials.
The allegations revolve around the supposed creation and circulation of materials known as “acordeones,” which contain lists of candidates along with their corresponding identification numbers on the ballot. These materials have reportedly been distributed through messaging apps, social media platforms, and websites, potentially constituting a systematic form of improper promotion that could alter the electoral competition’s equilibrium.
Sanctions and Measures Imposed
Exhortations:
The sanctions consist of urging the candidates to refrain from promoting, reproducing, or disseminating materials like “acordeones” or any other list containing candidate information intended to influence voting behavior.
Additionally, individuals and entities—including groups, associations, supporters, or any diverse entity—associated with the candidates have been urged to cease creating or distributing such materials.
For media outlets, the agreement acknowledges their right to freedom of expression in journalistic practice. However, they are exhorted to avoid direct reproduction of list content—especially when it may promote specific candidacies or sway votes in their favor.
Impact on the Election Process
The IECM’s actions aim to maintain a level playing field in the electoral process by preventing unauthorized campaign materials from influencing voters. By addressing these allegations, the IECM seeks to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to present their platforms and that voters make informed decisions based on fair information.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the IECM? The Instituto Electoral de la Ciudad de México (IECM) is the electoral authority responsible for overseeing and ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in Mexico City.
- Who are the candidates involved? The candidates under investigation are Elihú “C.”, Gerardo “B.”, and Daniela Alejandra “L.”.
- What are “acordeones”? “Acordeones” are campaign materials containing lists of candidates along with their corresponding identification numbers on the ballot, distributed through various digital platforms.
- What sanctions were imposed? The IECM’s Comisión de Quejas initiated three special sanctioning procedures and imposed precautionary measures against the candidates. These include exhortations to refrain from promoting, reproducing, or disseminating unauthorized campaign materials and urging associated individuals and entities to cease creating or distributing such materials.
- Why were these sanctions necessary? The sanctions aim to maintain a level playing field in the electoral process by preventing unauthorized campaign materials from influencing voters and ensuring all candidates have equal opportunities to present their platforms.
