June 2, awaiting the vote of mexicans abroad

Despite the importance of citizen participation for the democratic life of the country, disinterest and misinformation could lead to a low turnout among the Mexican community residing in the United States during the upcoming election on June 2.

According to the results of the International Electoral Survey of Mexicans Abroad—conducted from April 5 to 19 this year by experts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the UT Arlington Center for Mexican-American Studies, and BSP Research—, mexicans living abroad do not have much information or sufficient interest to go to the urns, which will be available for in-person voting at 20 consulates across the United States.

The survey reports that 41% are not interested in voting to elect the new president of Mexico. In contrast, for the elections to be held in the United States in November of this year, a similar percentage, 40% of respondents, are 100% sure they will vote to elect the next president of the United States.

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The lack of information, almost no engagement from candidates and their parties with this group of voters, the complexity of the process, and disbelief in politics and its actors are factors that will undoubtedly influence whether Mexicans express or not their electoral preferences on the ballots, whether in paper or virtually.

Here are some relevant data from the survey:

• Only 55% followed the news regarding the campaigns and the presidential election.
• Important process information, such as the National Electoral Institute (NEI) extending the registration deadline for voting in Mexico's elections by five days (from February 20 to 25), did not reach the majority of potential voters; 62% were unaware. An equal percentage of respondents also stated they were unaware that even without registration, Mexican citizens could go to a Mexican consulate on June 2 and cast their vote in person.

Regarding how they learned about voting in Mexico's elections, the majority did so through Spanish-language media (42%); other Mexican citizens (family, friends, coworkers) were the second most important source of information about the process with 39%, and less than 20% learned through the promotion of voting by the Mexican Consulate or the National Electoral Institute (NEI).

Neither the parties nor the candidates showed much proactivity in informing them about their projects: 67% of respondents said they had not been contacted.

Of those interviewed, 69% are registered, and those who are not cited the main reasons as not knowing how to register (23%); 21% do not know enough about the elections or the candidates to participate, and 20% also said they are not interested in politics or government matters.

Asked about the likelihood of participating in the June 2 elections, only 27% said they are 100% sure they will do so.

There is disbelief in the role of voting

Although a significant percentage, 40%, believe their vote will help influence the direction the country will take, another 44% recognize that their vote is important but, due to politicians, do not expect real changes, and 16% believe their vote does not matter and will not change anything.

Regarding voting, only 10% are confident it will be completely clean, and 32% have little or no confidence that their vote will be counted.

However, if something could motivate their vote, it would be the ability to improve the living conditions of their family and friends (72%) and to fight against corruption (37%).

In this context, the survey also reflects little involvement of Mexicans abroad in national political and electoral processes: 48% of respondents said they have never encouraged their family and friends, either in the United States or Mexico, to participate in the upcoming vote, and a slightly higher percentage, 49%, have also not encouraged their family and friends to support any party or candidate.

Regarding activity on social media, 35% said they never talk about Mexican politics in their online community.

Finally, the most important issues in Mexico that participants in this exercise expect the new president to address are:

• Drug cartel and gang violence 47%
• Government corruption 30%
• Reducing crime and insecurity 29%
• Poverty 27%
• Improving wages and creating jobs 25%

Image: Survey collaboration between professors Xavier Medina Vidal (UT Arlington Center for Mexican-American Studies), Sergio C. Wals (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Edward D. Vargas (BSP Research), experts in U.S.-Mexico relations and Mexican politics.

No te pierdas toda la cobertura que El Heraldo de México tendrás sobre las Elecciones de México 2024.