EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso is encouraging dual-citizens to register to vote from abroad in the 2024 Mexican elections before the deadline on Feb. 20.
Consul General Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de Leon said this will be the largest election in Mexican history. Besides the presidential election, there will be decisions for 128 senators and 500 deputies at the national level, as well as six state governors on the ballot.
Dual-citizens in the U.S. who were originally from any of the six states selecting a new governor will also be allowed to vote on that specific state race.
“What is important is for our community here to be close to the roots, to participate in what is being decided in Mexico, because at the end it will affect them as well, because basically all the programs that the consulate is providing in the U.S. are for our community that lives in the United States,” Ibarra Ponce de Leon said.
For the first time ever, dual citizens will have the option to place their vote in-person at 20 select Mexican consulates across the U.S., besides the traditional mail or online option.
In Texas, that will include the Mexican consulates in Dallas and Houston.
“We have to recognize that we have a huge diaspora in the U.S. That’s why Mexico is the country with the most consulates in another country. We have 53 consulates in the United States alone and we recognize our community here. We send remittances in very high volumes to Mexico. So we need to recognize them as any other citizens in Mexico, and they should be involved in anything related to our country,” Ibarra Ponce de Leon said.
He also believes that Mexican dual nationals will be more confident in who they’re voting for by having the option to place their vote in-person. Nearly 150,000 thousand dual citizens have already registered to vote, Ibarra Ponce de Leon said.
The consulate is also encouraging people with Mexican parents or grandparents to seek their Mexican citizenship. Ibarra Ponce de Leon said the process does take about two weeks, and while it might be too late to vote in this upcoming election, he said it’s a significant step in becoming involved in Mexican matters.
El Pasoans can visit the Mexican Consulate General in El Paso to register and request their voting card from the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) by bringing a document that shows your nationality, a photo ID, and a proof of address.
For more information on applying for your Mexican-citizenship you can visit their website at https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/elpaso/index.php/inicio
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