INE Rejects 40,000 Applications From Voters Abroad

After INE rejected the registration to the Electoral Roll of around 40,000 Mexicans abroad due to inconsistencies in their applications, the electoral authority informed that the cases may be appealed. Citizens may resend their application before May 5 to be able to vote on June 2.

INE confirmed that, after thoroughly reviewing 42,436 registration applications, 39,724 applications, equivalent to 0.04% of the National Electoral Roll, were considered ineligible due to irregularities or inconsistencies in the documents they uploaded. This ruling deprived citizens of the right to vote in the upcoming elections, which have been declared crucial since the population will elect a new president and 19,000 other public service positions, including governorships, senatorships, deputy , municipality, municipal boards and mayoralty positions. As a result of this revision process, the Electoral Roll of Voters Abroad currently has 187,388 registrations.

Irregularities cited by INE were mainly related to problems with signatures (18,203 cases), problems with proof of address (861 cases), non-compliance with requirements (12,574 cases) and registrations with multiple irregularities (8,086 cases). INE explained that in the case of signatures, problems included illegible signatures, photocopies instead of handwritten signatures or discrepancies with the signature on the voting ID (CPV). Regarding addresses, alleged alterations of data, false documents, repeated registrations with the same supporting document and documents that did not comply with the required validity were detected. In addition, forged documents, non-existent addresses, and incomplete registrations, such as lack of requirements or signatures, were detected. 

After facing national and international criticism, INE informed that those who were rejected still have the opportunity to make the necessary clarifications and confirm their registration to the Electoral Roll of Voters Abroad before May 5. In addition, Mexican citizens who do not do so will still be able to vote in the special polling places installed in the 23 consular offices around the world using their voting ID issued in Mexico or abroad.

The March 2024 Oraculus Poll Survey shows Claudia Sheinbaum, the MORENA candidate, as the leading contender for the presidential elections with an average preference of 60%. Xóchitl Gálvez, the candidate for Fuerza y Corazón por México, trails behind at 34%, while Jorge Álvarez Máynez, candidate for Movimiento Ciudadano, takes third place with only 6% of preferences.