Mexico City – Electoral officials have begun distributing 1 million voting forms for Mexicans living outside of Mexico, the latest step in the nation’s historic first attempt at allowing absentee voting, officials said Wednesday.
Mexico’s Federal Electoral Institute said the forms will allow Mexicans to request absentee ballots for July’s presidential elections. The forms have been distributed to embassies and consulates around the world.
The majority of the ballots – 900,000 – were sent to the United States, home to 98 percent of the 11 million Mexicans living outside of Mexico.
The institute said that in several days, it will send another 1 million forms around the world. Another 500,000 will be sent to electoral offices throughout Mexico for anyone who wants to pick up a form while visiting Mexico.
The forms, available starting Oct. 1, must be filled out and sent with a copy of a valid voting credential and proof of address before Jan. 15.
The format is also available on the institute’s website.
Congress approved a new law in June that allows Mexicans to cast absentee ballots for president. Before, they were required to return home to participate in elections – something many Mexicans couldn’t afford to do.
