Introduction to the Reform Efforts
The Comisión Presidencial para la Reforma Electoral held its first public hearing, bringing together academics, legislators, election law experts, and representatives from diverse communities to present proposals ranging from modernizing political communication to restructuring Congress.
Key Proposals for Digital Campaign Oversight
Andrea Samaniego: An academic from the Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales of UNAM suggested updating the 2007 political communication model. While it ensured equity and limited money’s influence in campaigns, it led to “message saturation” and fell behind the rise of social media. She proposed regulating digital campaigns, influencer contracts, and sanctioning parties using these tactics illegally. Additionally, she recommended adopting extended electoral slots on radio and television from countries like Chile and Brazil to prioritize idea debates.
Expanding Political Rights for Mexicans Abroad
Gonzalo Badillo Moreno: The former technical secretary of the Comisión Ordinaria para la Reforma Política-Electoral in the Chamber of Deputies proposed expanding political rights for Mexicans living abroad. His suggestions include creating a special list of 10 proportional diputations and 3 senadurías, setting up voting centers in consulates and community organizations, and eliminating the temporary nature of voter lists for those living abroad.
Ensuring Tribunal Electoral Autonomy and Budget Stability
Norma Sandoval: Magistrate of the Tribunal Electoral de Puebla emphasized the urgency of securing a fixed budget for these institutions, as they currently rely on state legislature authorization. She stressed that tribunal autonomy is crucial for maintaining the balance of powers and called for a mandatory budgetary percentage in law.
Addressing Representation Proportional System
Andrés García Rapper: A member of the Comité de Evaluación del Poder Legislativo for the election of the Judicial Power suggested reviewing the proportional representation system. He warned against eliminating plurinominal seats, proposing instead to adopt state circumscriptions as per the 2022 reform. This would allow voters to choose specific candidates within party lists, preventing arbitrary seat allocations.
Harmonizing Electoral Laws for Indigenous Representation
Roselia Bustillo: Presiding magistrate of the Sala Regional Xalapa of the TEPJF urged harmonizing federal and local electoral laws to ensure indigenous representation and achieve “true substantive equality” in political rights access across all government levels.
Preparing for the 2027 Election with Technology
Ernesto Ramos: An electoral consejo member of the Instituto Electoral de la Ciudad de México warned that the 2027 election will be “the most complex in recent years.” To avoid delays and uncertainty, he proposed using technologies such as electronic voting, internet complementary voting, and electronic counting of acts (e-counting). E-counting, he said, would have a smaller investment than electronic voting in booths and help “avoid capture errors, accelerate results, and reduce the number of people involved in counting.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What were the main topics discussed at the public hearing? A: The hearing covered modernizing political communication, expanding political rights for Mexicans abroad, ensuring tribunal electoral autonomy and budget stability, addressing the proportional representation system, harmonizing electoral laws for indigenous representation, and preparing for the 2027 election with technology.
- Q: What specific proposals were made for digital campaigns? A: Proposals included regulating digital campaigns, influencer contracts, and sanctioning parties using these tactics illegally. Extended electoral slots on radio and television were also suggested, inspired by countries like Chile and Brazil.
- Q: How can political rights for Mexicans abroad be expanded? A: Proposals include creating a special list of 10 proportional diputations and 3 senadurías, setting up voting centers in consulates and community organizations, and eliminating the temporary nature of voter lists for those living abroad.
- Q: Why is tribunal electoral autonomy important? A: Tribunal autonomy is essential for maintaining the balance of powers, and a mandatory budgetary percentage should be established in law to ensure their stability.
- Q: What changes were proposed for the proportional representation system? A: The suggestion was to adopt state circumscriptions, as per the 2022 reform, allowing voters to choose specific candidates within party lists and preventing arbitrary seat allocations.
- Q: How can indigenous representation be ensured in electoral laws? A: Harmonizing federal and local electoral laws is crucial to achieve true substantive equality in political rights access across all government levels.
- Q: What technologies were proposed for the 2027 election? A: Proposed technologies include electronic voting, internet complementary voting, and electronic counting of acts (e-counting) to avoid errors, accelerate results, and reduce the number of people involved in counting.
