Mexico's electoral reform faces fierce opposition ahead of key vote

Mexico's Chamber of Deputies will debate President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's electoral reform on March 10 and 11. The proposal aims to change how proportional representation deputies are elected, reduce party funding, and regulate AI in campaigns. Opposition parties, including PAN and PRI, have already signalled their rejection of the bill.

The reform requires a qualified majority of around 330 votes to amend the constitution. Morena holds a simple majority, which could ease approval in committee but falls short of the threshold needed in the San Lázaro plenary. To pass, the party would need over 70 additional votes from other political forces. However, its usual allies, PT and PVEM, have not backed the bill.

The National Action Party (PAN) has long opposed organised crime's influence in elections. In 2018, its leaders accused Morena candidates in Michoacán and Guerrero of cartel ties. By 2020, PAN proposed the *Ley Anti-Narco-Candidatos* to block individuals with proven crime links from running for office. The party also pushed for stricter financial transparency and supported Supreme Court rulings in 2021 that disqualified crime-linked candidates in Tamaulipas. PRI has joined PAN in rejecting the reform. Both parties argue that the changes threaten democratic checks and weaken electoral oversight. Without broader support, Morena's ability to push the bill through remains uncertain.

The reform's fate now rests on whether Morena can secure the extra votes needed for passage. If approved, it would reshape party funding, deputy elections, and campaign rules—including AI use. The outcome will determine whether the government's electoral overhaul moves forward or stalls in congress.