INE President Guadalupe Taddei Zavala Refuses to Hand Over Electoral Register for New CURP Biometric System

Web Editor

July 16, 2025

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Background on Guadalupe Taddei Zavala and INE

Guadalupe Taddei Zavala serves as the President of the Mexican Electoral Institute (INE), an independent body responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in Mexico. As the head of INE, she plays a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections across the country. Her position makes her a significant figure in Mexican politics, as she is responsible for safeguarding electoral processes and maintaining the integrity of Mexico’s democracy.

INE’s Stance on Handing Over the Electoral Register

During a press conference, Taddei Zavala clarified that there is currently no formal request or legal mandate from the federal government for INE to hand over the Electoral Register (Padrón) or the List of Registered Voters (Lista Nominal) for the new CURP (Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion) biometric system.

She emphasized that any decision regarding the release of such sensitive data, which contains biometric information on approximately 99 million citizens, would require consensus among all INE consejeros (council members).

Taddei Zavala also addressed the speculations surrounding the potential handover of these lists, stating that she has consistently advocated for the protection of this information and that there is no legal basis or regulation supporting such a move.

Addressing Concerns about the Impact on Voter Credentials

When questioned about the possibility of voter credentials being displaced as a form of identification due to the new CURP biometric system, Taddei Zavala defended the INE credential’s significance as a widely recognized official identification document both domestically and internationally.

She acknowledged that the CURP biometric system could emerge without compromising the INE credential’s role, emphasizing that both initiatives could coexist while the electoral register and list of registered voters remain updated.

Claudia Sheinbaum’s Proposal for Popular Election of INE Consejeros

In a separate matter, Taddei Zavala commented on Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum’s proposal to have INE consejeros elected by popular vote.

Taddei Zavala expressed her concerns about this approach, stating that it could create a “rocky” path for selecting those who would lead the INE. She highlighted that current INE consejeros have a defined beginning and end to their terms, making the popular election process potentially more complicated.

She also mentioned that she would closely monitor the development of this new legislation, as opinions vary on its depth and purpose – some believe it will be a substantial reform, while others see it as merely an update to address the current electoral laws’ shortcomings.

Key Questions and Answers

  • What is the main issue discussed in this article? The refusal of INE President Guadalupe Taddei Zavala to hand over the Electoral Register and List of Registered Voters for the new CURP biometric system due to lack of formal request or legal mandate.
  • Why is the INE credential important? The INE credential has become a widely recognized official identification document in Mexico and abroad, making it difficult to displace with the new CURP biometric system.
  • What are Taddei Zavala’s concerns regarding the popular election of INE consejeros? Taddei Zavala believes that electing INE consejeros through popular vote could create a complicated process, as current terms have defined beginnings and ends.
  • What is the status of the proposed CURP biometric system? The CURP biometric system is a law recently approved, but its implementation details are still under consideration.