The deadline is Sunday for Mexicans living abroad to register to vote in this year's presidential election in their homeland, but only a fraction who qualify have done so.
As of Jan. 3, that nation's Federal Electoral Institute (known as IFE) had received 20,105 applications from 74 countries, nearly 88 per cent from the United States. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the 4.5 million immigrants believed to be able to meet the requirements to vote.
By law, all Mexicans living outside their country have a right to vote in the presidential election, to be held on July 1.
For the election of 2006, around 32,000 Mexican Mexicans living abroad cast their votes.
The immigrants vote through the mail. To qualify to do so, they must be Mexican citizens and have a valid IFE voting credential, which can only be requested from Mexico.
According to the IFE, an immigrant's credential is valid if it carries the person's photo or has a square with the number "03" on it.
Many migrants have been living abroad for so long that their voting credential has expired and, for a number of reasons, it's not practical for them to return home to renew it
That's why migrants' representatives have argued that the requirement be changed to make it easier for immigrants to vote.
Those who are able to travel to Mexico to request or renew their credential can find the nearest IFE office through the official site Voto Extranjero.
Applicants for the credential must have a birth certificate and be able to provide an address in Mexico. If the person does not have an address there, he or she can use a friend's or family member's.
Mexicans living abroad who have a valid IFE credential can download the application to vote through the IFE's site.
The applicant will be asked for basic information, such a name and address where the ballot can be sent; and for an e-mail and phone number, although these latter two are optional.
Applicants will receive their ballot, along with a postage-paid envelope they can use to mail it back to Mexico.
IFE estimates that 11.8 million Mexicans live outside of Mexico most in the United States 4.5 million of which likely have the valid electoral credential.
Much like in the United States, much is at stake in this year's presidential election in Mexico. Mexicans will decide if they want to continue the policies of the party currently in power, known as the PAN, including its devastating war on the drug cartels, or change course by either returning the PRI to power, or electing the left-leaning PRD.
Alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com
