Mexico’s ruling Morena party is moving forward with a sweeping overhaul of the country’s electoral system, a plan that proposes reducing the number of federal electoral counselors and altering the composition of both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The proposed reforms, detailed in a 21-page document obtained by Latinus and reported by news outlets, have sparked concerns among market observers and drawn criticism from the United States, according to reporting from El País.
The core of the proposed changes centers on the National Electoral Institute (INE). The plan calls for reducing the number of electoral counselors at the INE from eleven to eight, maintaining the position of secretary-general. Counselors would serve nine-year terms without the possibility of reelection. Representatives from political parties and the legislative branch would retain the right to voice opinions, but would not have voting power. Three current INE counselors – Dania Ravel, Claudia Zavala, and Jaime Rivera – will conclude their terms on April 4th, and their replacements will be chosen under existing legislation.
The proposal outlines a phased transition for the INE’s composition. Until July 26, 2029, the council will consist of eleven members, after which it will be reduced to nine. The document emphasizes the need for “rational budgetary management and republican austerity” within the INE.
Changes are also proposed for state-level electoral bodies, known as OPLEs. These bodies would be comprised of a maximum of five individuals appointed by the Senate with a two-thirds majority, serving seven-year terms. A technical evaluation committee, consisting of five “prestigious” individuals – three nominated by senators and two by the National Human Rights Commission – would be established. If the Senate fails to reach an agreement, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation will make the appointments, ensuring gender balance.
The reforms also address the composition of the Mexican Congress. The proposal suggests increasing the number of deputies in the Chamber of Deputies from 500 to 508, utilizing a “mixed system.” The allocation of 200 proportional representation seats would also be modified. Specifically, 300 deputies would be elected by relative majority, one per electoral district. The remaining 200 would be allocated through proportional representation, with 100 seats determined by the highest percentage of individual votes not securing a majority, using gender-balanced lists. Eight additional seats would be reserved for the Mexican diaspora, elected through closed, non-blocked lists, with voters able to express a single preference for both male and female candidates.
In the Senate, the proposal calls for the elimination of 32 plurinominal senators, reducing the total number of Senate seats to 96. Sixty-four senators would be elected by relative majority in each state, with two senators per state. Candidate formulas would be composed of one man and one woman, with at least half of the states requiring the first candidate on the formula to be a woman.
The proposed reforms also include a 25% reduction in annual public financing for political parties, calculated using a formula based on the value of the UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) and the number of registered voters. Funding for election campaigns would increase to 50% of the ordinary financing amount. The proposal also suggests a potential shift in the distribution of ordinary financing, potentially increasing the proportion allocated equally among parties from 30% to 40%, to benefit smaller parties.
Public funds allocated to independent candidates would be limited to campaign expenses. Independent candidates would be allowed to receive private donations from Mexican citizens, with a limit of 850 UMAS (approximately 99,713 pesos) per year, a significant reduction from the previous limit of 3.3 million pesos.
