Hey Spiff, will they need a Mexican Voter ID, or will a Matricula Consular be sufficient for voter registration?
Posted on 06/29/2005 10:04:54 AM PDT by Spiff
Mexicans abroad get to vote
If they hold a Mexican voter card, they may participate in the country's next presidential election for the first time.
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Mexican immigrants across the United States celebrated yesterday as lawmakers in Mexico approved a bill that will allow them to vote for the first time from abroad in the country's presidential election. Some expatriates said the new system still excludes many potential voters, particularly illegal immigrants in the United States who lack Mexico's voter registration card and are afraid to leave the country to get it.
Still, the new law represents a victory for expatriates who contribute to their families back home and have long sought more of a say in Mexican national politics.
They could help sway the country's July 2, 2006, presidential election.
"This is the end of a long fight. Even though it's limited, it opens the doors to political participation for Mexicans abroad," said Gustavo Santiago, president of a Los Angeles-based coalition of Mexican-American political groups. "Now begins the second stage. It is time to get people out to vote."
In Chicago, the Mexican Consulate planned a party last night.
"It changes the way Mexican politicians do politics with Mexicans abroad," said Chicago activist Jose Luis Gutierrez.
Mexican expatriates will likely use their newfound influence to push officials back home to improve economic opportunities there and put more pressure on U.S. legislators to pass meaningful immigration reform, he said.
"We want the Mexican government to open up opportunities for us to invest our money back home so we can generate jobs," he said.
Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the new law will also benefit the United States.
"It's good for America because Latinos here can bring some of their political values and ideals of individual liberty to Mexico," said Wilkes, speaking from the league's annual meeting in Little Rock, Ark.
Mexico's estimated 11 million expatriates, the majority of them living in the United States, are legally allowed to vote and hold dual citizenship but have been unable to participate in federal elections because the Mexican Congress could not agree on an absentee ballot system. Yesterday, Mexican lawmakers overwhelming agreed to establish a system for mail-in absentee ballots.
The law, however, requires voters to hold a Mexican voter registration card. That means millions of people who came to the United States and never returned to get their ID cards will be ineligible to vote in next year's election unless they return in the coming months to get their cards.
"Those who don't have papers can't do anything because they can't leave the country ... unless they want to cross the Rio Grande again," said Felipe Aguirre, a spokesman for Mexico's left-leaning Democratic Revolution Party and a founder of the federation of Oaxacans in the United States.
Many advocates of the vote also said they were disappointed that the Congress did not approve opening voter polls abroad. They said they were distrustful of sending their ballots in by mail.
Leaders of political and community groups planned to meet this week to begin organizing publicity efforts to get the word out about the vote.
Mexicans in the United States will be able to request their ballots between October and January for next summer's election.
"It's not what we had hoped for, but we're going to work as hard as we can to make this a success and get people out to vote," Aguirre said.
Hey Spiff, will they need a Mexican Voter ID, or will a Matricula Consular be sufficient for voter registration?
Just intercept these at the post office, go to the return address and deport the mailer.
Good idea!
But of course that would require American politicians who give a damn.
Maybe we should put those kinds of leaders on the Endangered Species list.
Other countries do this too. Expat Iraqis voted in their country's last election. I believe some other countries do it as well.
Unlike the accusation lobbed at the Russian church this week in another thread, this IS the mexican government trying to influence foreign policy by creating a loyal expat community.
BTTT
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(FR Open Border Opinion Poll captured on 13 Feb, 2005 at 10:00 PM EST)
Free Republic Opinion Poll: Please indicate whether or not you support or oppose open borders and illegal immigration.
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hmmmmmmm, Mexico knows who is here, but we do not. WEIRD>
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Those Iraqis (mostly Kurds) are here on refugee and legal immigrant status. This is about a foreign government granting voting status to 5 million plus of it's citizens who are residing in our country illegally.
Not only does this salt the wound of our enforcement efforts, it purposely perpetuates the idea that former Mexicans who are now US citizens and legal immigrants on track to become Americans are still tied to their former country.
The country that made their life so hellish that they had to flee arrogantly dictates that they still owe Mexico more loyalty than this nation that granted them refuge and opportunity.
And some people wonder why I'm so down on Mexico.
"The country that made their life so hellish that they had to flee arrogantly dictates that they still owe Mexico more loyalty than this nation that granted them refuge and opportunity."
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