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| Mexican expatriate voter drive comes up far short |
| 2006-01-13 |
| Chicago Trib EFL Of 4 million eligible, only 15,500 register At a registration drive in Pilsen, radio host Javier Salas tried to energize his countrymen about their historic opportunity to vote in Chicago for their homeland's next president. "Let's hear it!" he shouted into his microphone Thursday. "Viva Mexico!" But Salas later acknowledged that few are tuning in to that message: Three days before the registration deadline, it appears that the widely heralded debut of Mexican expatriate voting has fizzled. Since registration started in October, only about 15,500 Mexicans in the U.S. have registered to vote by mail in the July presidential election, of an estimated 4 million eligible voters. When the Mexican Congress approved the plan last year, organizers predicted a turnout of about 300,000 voters. The hand-wringing has spread to Mexico, where lawmakers and pundits have questioned whether it is worth the government's expense to organize expatriate voting when so few signed up. Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute has spent $10 million on organizing the effort. Both election organizers and immigrant activists acknowledged shortcomings but vowed to do better in the future. The Federal Electoral Institute "has done all that is within its power. but we also have to be self-critical," said Patricio Ballados, in charge of overseas voting for the agency in Mexico. "We've learned a lot of things. Why? Because this is the first time we are doing it." Salas predicted that Mexicans back home would question the commitment of expatriates. Jorge Santibanez, president of the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana, said high expectations were unrealistic, given that even Mexicans at home do not see voting as an answer to their problems. Santibanez did not think the Mexican Congress would abandon the idea in future elections but predicted "a lot of noise in the debate" after final registration numbers are compiled. Jose Luis Gutierrez, president of a federation of Michoacan natives in Chicago, said even one expatriate vote was better than none, noting that the exercise would make Mexicans more politically active in both countries. Right on cue, a voter who had just registered tapped Gutierrez on the shoulder and asked about becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. "See what I mean," Gutierrez said. "We are learning. We are learning how to speak our minds. This is the awakening of a new community, one that is binational, active here and there." |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #8 Go ahead, elect another president. And he'll say "Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss". |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-01-13 15:13 |
| #7 #5. Well put. Expats are well aware of endemic Mexican corruption. Only the ultra-nationalistic Chicano groups yearn for Anschluss... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2006-01-13 15:08 |
| #6 Does this mean they aren't planning to go home? Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2006-01-13 14:14 |
| #5 Considering the large number of Iraqi expatriates who participated in the recent elections, it appears that they believe that true and valued democracy has a chance there. The Mexican expatriates know that such a creature does not and can not exist back in the old country with the present corrupt ruling class that's why they're here, so why bother. |
| Posted by: Glomogum Glater1056 2006-01-13 14:14 |
| #4 Salas predicted that Mexicans back home would question the commitment of expatriates. They will, however, keep cashing those money orders they send back... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-01-13 12:17 |
| #3 could be the border patrol and ICE agents posted outside the polling places had an effect? :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-13 12:16 |
| #2 Only 15,000 eh? Here's a concept: If you're not registered to vote, you must GO HOME to Mexico! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-01-13 12:05 |
| #1 Mi amigo, Por favor, to hell with your ballot... just keep wiring the dinero! Juan |
| Posted by: Hyper 2006-01-13 11:56 |