1. Electoral Structure: Mexico follows a federal presidential republic system. The country is divided into 32 states and a federal district (Mexico City). Elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the Congress of Mexico and the President of Mexico.
2. Congress of Mexico: The Congress of Mexico consists of two houses – the Senate of the Republic (Senado de la República) and the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados).
3. Senate of the Republic: The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Congress. It has 128 members, known as Senators. Each state is represented by four Senators, two elected through a first-past-the-post voting system and two elected through a proportional representation system.
4. Chamber of Deputies: The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress. It has 500 members, known as Deputies. Deputies are elected through a mixed-member proportional representation system. 300 Deputies are elected in single-member districts, and 200 Deputies are elected through a proportional representation system based on party lists.
5. Voting System: Mexico uses a mixed-member proportional representation system for the Chamber of Deputies. Voters cast two votes – one for a candidate in their district and another for a political party. The seats in the Chamber of Deputies are allocated proportionally to ensure representation of parties based on their overall share of the national vote.
6. Presidential Election: The President of Mexico is elected through a direct popular vote. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes nationwide is declared the winner. The term for the President is six years, and they cannot be re-elected for a consecutive term.
7. National Electoral Institute (INE): The National Electoral Institute is an autonomous public organization responsible for organizing federal elections in Mexico. It oversees voter registration, candidate nominations, and the administration of elections. It also promotes civic education and ensures the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.
8. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in national elections in Mexico, a person must be a Mexican citizen and at least 18 years old on the day of the election. Voters must be registered on the electoral roll.
