July 30, 2006
	Read AMLO's speech given on July 30 in Mexico City entitled "We are going to defend Democracy with actions"
	July 16, 2006
	Read AMLO's speech given on July 16 in Zocalo, Mexico City in which he demands a recount "vote by vote, polling place by polling place".

AMLO attacks the court's rejection of a vote by vote recount. Image from www.ecosdelacosta.com.mx.

Mexican Election Court Rules in Favor of 9% Recount

On Saturday, August 5, Mexico's Federal Electoral Tribunal ruled in favor of a partial recount of nine percent of the ballots cast in Mexico's razor close and hotly contested presidential election. While this ruling may represent a first a step in the right direction, Global Exchange's election observation team continues to believe that the wisest path is that of a full recount of all ballots, as soon as possible. Only a total recount can close the door on doubts that have arisen over inconsistencies alleged by political parties, domestic observers and the public. Global Exchange will monitor the vote count this week in Jalisco. More observers will return to Mexico in mid-August.

Following are the details of how the recount will proceed:
• The recount, ordered by Mexico's electoral court, will be conducted by officials at the Federal Electoral Institute, or IFE, in the 149 electoral districts affected. Most of the recounts will be in northern and western areas where Calderon won resoundingly.

• Counting will begin at 9 a.m. (1400 GMT) and continue until completed, running through the night where necessary. The count must be finished by Sunday evening, giving a five-day timeframe.

• The process will be supervised by magistrates specially appointed for the task by Mexico's judiciary. The heads of each electoral district will also be present.

• The main political parties will also have representatives present to oversee the counting. They can send as many as they like. Lopez Obrador's party said it would send two people to each district voting office and Calderon's party said it would send at least one per office.

• The results will be published blow-by-blow as they are finalized from each of the 149 electoral districts where recounts were ordered. There are no recounts at the other 151 districts.

• Once the electoral court has the results in hand, it will decide whether polling station tallies showing discrepancies should be corrected or removed entirely from the national vote count.

• If the partial recount shows serious discrepancies, the court could still order many more recounts across the country. Opinion is divided over whether it could even change its mind and order a full recount.

  [From Reuters - Aug 8, 2006]