He electoral process 2024 It is considered the largest in history, since 20,708 positions will be elected, including nine governorships, but it is estimated that It will cost more than 60 billion pesosthat is, more than 614 pesos per citizen.
In this sense, Laboratorio Electoral, an organization that promotes research, reflection and analysis on issues related to elections and democracy in Mexico and Latin America, highlights that regarding the electoral process of the next Sunday June 2considering the total electoral budgetthat is, what is assigned to the electoral authorities, both jurisdictional and administrative, plus the financing of political parties, both at the local and national level, it is possible to make a calculation about how much the election costs based on the possible voters.
It details that the electoral administrative and jurisdictional authorities, at the federal and local level, receive the amount of 41 thousand 170 million 580 thousand 855 pesos; If to this is added what is allocated for the financing of political parties at the national level and in the federal entities, which is equivalent to 19 thousand 280 million 771 thousand 076 pesos and 74 cents, the electoral budget for 2024 is 60 thousand 451 million 351 thousand 931 pesos, where the simple division of that amount between the number of potential voters, that is, people registered on the Nominal List of Voters, which is equivalent to 98 million 329 thousand 591 citizens, gives us a cost of $ 614.78 (six hundred and fourteen pesos and 78 cents) per voter.
Analysis
In this regard, analyst Alexandro Méndez highlighted that these amounts remind us how crucial it is to participate in the democracy. “Voting is key for governments to listen and respond to people’s needs. It is our tool to punish or reward governments and decide the future of our state and country.”
He said he was convinced that defending freedom means protecting our right to vote. “This right allows us to elect our representatives and express our voice on important issues. In a democracy every vote counts and every citizen has the responsibility to exercise their right with conscience and commitment,” he added.
He recalled that throughout the political campaigns, which recently ended, some young people have expressed that they do not feel represented by the candidates, “my suggestion is that it is good to think about people, but also about government models. What form of government involves citizens in decision-making, transparency and accountability? Which government seeks to trigger investment and generate growth? That is where the focus should be to make an informed and coherent decision.”
Likewise, Alexandro Méndez urged citizens in general to go out and vote and defend what concerns us to build a country with more equity and prosperity. “We complain about losing freedom when we have the jackboot on our neck, but now is the time to act.”
Abstentionism
For his part, Esteban Quintero explained that the approximate cost per person in voting could unfortunately increase due to the marked abstentionism that has historically characterized electoral processes in our country.
“To think that it costs us approximately 600 pesos per person to access a vote and that this amount increases to nearly a thousand pesos if we take into account a participation percentage of approximately 60 percent of the electoral roll, and to waste the opportunity to exercise the Voting next Sunday is practically the same as throwing our money in the trash and allowing someone else to decide for us.”
He added that the cost of elections It may seem high, however, he added, we should not skimp when it comes to preserving our democracy, “we should not save pennies and let the pesos go.”
In this sense, Esteban Quintero added, even though, considering that expenses should not be spared, he said he was aware that there are areas of opportunity that could allow the cost of elections to be reduced, “such as investment in technology that spreads digital voting.” , reduce or even eliminate financing for political parties, allowing them to access private financing, etc. However, all these possible reforms must be very well analyzed, aware that the main objective is the strengthening of the democratic system and not a cost policy.”
It comes cheap
Meanwhile, analyst Joaquín Miranda acknowledged that much has been said that the Mexican elections are the most expensive in the world, “something that is important to deny,” he added.
In this sense, he made it clear that despite the recent discussions about the relevance of reforming the INE (National Electoral Institute) and the TEPJF (Electoral Court of the Judicial Power of the Federation), it is important to highlight that we have one of the most efficient electoral systems and reliable companies in the world, an effort that has been consolidating since 1990.
“The cost of democracy per Mexican is, in reality, very cheap, considering that the voter card is free and, in addition, it works like an identity card due to the 16 security filters that each one of them has. In other countries, such as Germany, Switzerland or France, ID renewals must be paid for.”
He added that the fact that there is the possibility of being used in each election to elect public representatives gives it added value, considering that Mexico It is a system, until now, of competitive matches.
“Mexicans have, until now, the guarantee of being able to cast a vote of confidence and punishment, knowing that their will will be respected, as well as directly by the representative of their preference. In a comparative analysis, more than 90 countries in the world do not even have an electoral registry, like the United States, which also has an indirect election system,” he added.
Joaquín Miranda considered that the greatest challenge of Mexican democracy is not its cost, but its inability to process the demands of Mexicans. “Although our political system has allowed the government of three different parties, many of the pending issues, such as inequality, poverty, insecurity, education and health, have not registered great progress,” he added.
In this sense, he said, Mexico It continues to be a country with very slow development and, with current levels of violence, mired in impunity. “The biggest risk is not the cost, but the indifference to the democratic exercise due to the lack of a perception of public utility or the frontal attack of our institutions, including, of course, the electoral ones.”
States where there will be elections for governor
Eight states will elect governor, in addition to Mexico City, which will elect head of government. Here the total resource requested by the federal entity for the electoral process is indicated. (The allocation of the amounts obeys a legally established formula, in which a percentage of the Unit of Measurement and Update and the Nominal List of Voters of the entity are contemplated as variables.
THE DATA
Electoral budget
The electoral administrative and jurisdictional authorities, at the federal and local level, receive the amount of 41 thousand 170 million 580 thousand 855 pesos.
Political parties
Financing to political parties, both nationally and locally, is equivalent to 19,280,771,076 pesos and 74 cents, an amount that is added to electoral spending.
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