By Ivy L. Alarcón 
The Mexican electoral process of 2024 has been marked by controversy in the registration of voters abroad, with a series of challenges and issues that have raised concerns among the Mexican diaspora. The National Electoral Institute (INE) announced on April 15th that Mexican citizens abroad would have until May 5th to register as voters for the elections to be held in Mexico. However, this announcement was not without controversy, as difficulties and obstacles were reported in completing the registration process.
The INE explained that nearly 40,000 registrations to vote abroad were rejected, raising questions about the transparency and efficiency of the process. Lorenzo Córdova, president councilor of the INE, justified these decisions by ensuring that strict criteria were followed to guarantee the legitimacy of the electoral process. Córdova also emphasized: “It is crucial for Mexicans abroad to exercise their right to vote, and we are working hard to facilitate this process in a challenging period.” On April 20th, the INE also announced through its social media channels that the cases had been reviewed and investigated, and nearly half were approved for voting.
On the other hand, in international media such as CNN en Español, the problems faced by Mexicans abroad in exercising their right to vote were reported. Logistical and technological challenges were highlighted, as well as complaints from some citizens about the lack of clear and accessible information from electoral authorities. US electoral authorities have also been involved in this process, providing logistical support and assistance to facilitate the registration of Mexican voters in US territory. Amid these controversies, the call for Mexicans abroad to actively participate in the electoral process persists, exercising their right to vote and thus contributing to Mexico’s democratic destiny.
Even President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has commented on this situation, emphasizing his intentions to streamline the process for Mexicans abroad.