Mexican President Sheinbaum Proposes Sweeping Electoral Reform Bill

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled a comprehensive electoral reform bill that aims to modernise the country's voting system, reduce campaign spending, and eliminate party-appointed legislative positions.

The proposed legislation, set to be introduced to Congress on Monday, contains ten major provisions that would significantly alter how elections are conducted in Mexico. Key among these is the elimination of plurinominal seats—positions currently filled by party appointment rather than direct voter choice.

Under the reforms, all 200 plurinominal deputies and 32 plurinominal senators would be required to appear on ballots and campaign for public votes, ending the practice of parties selecting legislators without electoral contest. The Senate itself would shrink from 128 to 96 seats as part of the restructuring.

The bill also targets electoral expenditure, proposing a 25% reduction in public spending for electoral processes. The savings would be redirected toward healthcare, education, and social programmes. Political parties would face stricter financing limits, and elected officials would see their pay capped.

Campaign regulations would be tightened considerably. The reforms mandate labels on AI-generated content, ban the use of bots in political messaging, and introduce new controls on campaign financing. Additionally, measures to prevent nepotism would bar close family members from competing for vacated seats.

A ban on consecutive re-election for lawmakers would take effect starting in 2030 under the proposed changes. The bill also seeks to streamline voting procedures for Mexican citizens living abroad, addressing long-standing complaints about the difficulty of participating in elections from outside the country.

Sheinbaum has framed the reforms as necessary steps to strengthen Mexican democracy and respond to public demands for greater accountability. "We don't want a state party or a single party," she emphasised in defending the proposals against criticism.

However, the reforms face significant legislative hurdles. Approval requires a two-thirds majority in each chamber of Congress, a threshold that presents a considerable challenge even for Sheinbaum's Morena party. Whilst Morena holds a legislative majority alongside allied parties including the Labour Party and Green Party, some coalition partners oppose key provisions.

"Morena has a very narrow margin of error in the Senate for passing this bill," noted political analyst Rodolfo Ramos. The government's ability to secure the necessary votes remains uncertain.

Opposition parties have voiced concerns that the reforms could consolidate the ruling party's control over the political system. The elimination of plurinominal seats, in particular, has drawn scrutiny from critics who argue it could disadvantage smaller parties and reduce diversity in the legislature.

The proposal represents one of the most ambitious attempts to overhaul Mexico's electoral framework in years, setting the stage for a contentious parliamentary battle that will test Sheinbaum's legislative coalition and shape the country's democratic institutions for years to come.