INE and electoral organizations deliver their ‘wishlist’ for democracy
This Monday, in a move that reminded us to hand in the group task at the last minute, the head of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Guadalupe Taddei, passed the baton (or rather, a mountain of documents) to Pablo Gómez, president of the Presidential Commission for Electoral Reform. The package included the proposals of all Local Public Electoral Bodies (OPLEs) and civil society. Basically, the institutional equivalent of a shared Google Drive, but with more formality and, we assume, fewer memes.
The president advisor, with the energy of someone trying to motivate a team in a Monday morning meeting, made it clear that the best way to participate to improve the electoral system is by contributing ideas. In a speech that mixed civic wisdom with a touch of “take advantage now or later and don’t complain,” Taddei declared: “Every time a door is opened to us and we remain silent, tomorrow we are unable to make any kind of suggestions.” I mean, it’s like when in the WhatsApp group they ask where to go and they only make faces, and then they complain about the place. She was clear: “Let’s be part of this story, let’s not stay on the sidelines.” A call to action that even the most apolitical person would understand.
The OPLES raise their voices: “We also exist, eh”
Accompanied by representatives of the 32 OPLEs (yes, those of all the states, because federalization is real), Taddei came out to defend the work of these organizations. Come on, it gave them their moment in the spotlight. He argued that his knowledge is “vast” and fundamental, especially in areas of specialized care. In Christian: they are those who know the lands, the communities and the logistical details that we could not even imagine in Mexico City. “Both parties, the OPLEs and the INE, reached the last corner of the towns to be able to install the boxes,” he stressed. In other words, they are the delivery heroes of democracy, taking the urn to your ranchería.
On the other hand, Pablo Gómez, in “recipient of suggestions open 24/7” mode, pointed out that the collection of proposals is still alive. With the attitude of someone who knows he has a complex puzzle on his hands, he invited more people and organizations to send their ideas: “It is of the greatest interest to the commission… if there are any others who can help us resolve some issues that are no small thing… I would greatly appreciate it.” A very diplomatic way of saying: “Send help, this has more edges than a diamond.”
The event, which brought together the local electoral leadership and a dozen civil society organizations, made it clear that the Mexican electoral reform is intended to be a collective effort. It is not a dark decree, but an open call (or at least, that is the narrative). The underlying message is that modernizing the rules of the democratic game requires listening to those who operate it in the trenches. It remains to be seen whether these proposals will be the roadmap to revamping the system or simply lost PDFs on a government portal. The ball, for now, is in the court of the presidential commission.
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