June 1, 2000
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1. Acknowledgements
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From May 19 to 29, 27 scholars from Japan, Europe, and North America visited Mexico to observe the preparations for the national elections.All had spent time in Mexico previously and nearly all were fluent in Spanish. The delegation was organized by Global Exchange and Alianza Cívica, two NGOs, one based in the U.S., the other in Mexico. The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) granted the delegates official status as "foreign visitors" so that they could observe the electoral preparations throughout the country.
The delegation spent four days in Mexico City interviewing officials from IFE and other governmental agencies responsible for electoral oversight, representatives of four political parties including the traditional ruling party and the two largest opposition parties, journalists, labor leaders, and representatives of a variety of civic organizations. Members of the delegation also visited the states of Mexico and Tlaxcala to observe electoral preparations and hear testimony about irregularities and possible violations of the election laws.
The delegation then broke into five groups to visit the states of Yucatán, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas, and the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo. They met with state and local level government officials, party representatives, journalists, civic organizations, and ordinary citizens. Following is a brief summary of the conclusions reached by the delegation.
The elections of July 2, 2000, represent a historic moment for the people of Mexico. For possibly the first time, Mexicans will elect leaders under an electoral system that is independent of president or party control. We were deeply impressed by the work of IFE in compiling an accurate and certifiable list of voters, recruiting and training hundreds of thousands of volunteer poll workers, and preparing the public to cast a vote that is "free and secret." Nevertheless, the delegation has several concerns at both the national and local levels:
- The system for investigating and punishing violations of the election laws and in the means afforded for filing complaints appears to have significant weaknesses.
- Despite the efforts of IFE, there is continuing evidence of bias in the mass media both as regards the amount of coverage and the favorability of the reporting.
- Some remote areas do not receive adequate information, especially where indigenous languages are prevalent.
- There is evidence that in remote areas the vote may not be entirely "secret and free."
- Public resources have been used for partisan purposes and government anti-poverty programs may be manipulated to influence votes, particularly in communities with high levels of poverty and low levels of education.
- The large military presence and the existence of paramilitary groups in some regions may lead to abstentions due to fear on the part of those who must pass through checkpoints or zones of conflict to reach the polls.
- The delegation is grateful to IFE for accrediting it but feels obliged to mention that some of its members encountered serious hurdles in obtaining visas from the National Institute of Immigration and the intended leader of the delegation was refused entry into the country.
In conclusion, Mexico has made impressive improvements in the way it conducts elections, but still faces significant hurdles on the path to democratization. We hope that not only this year, but in years to come, Mexico will continue to build on the foundation it has already laid so that elections at all levels are "clean and fair." That is what virtually every Mexican we met desires for their country.