Nullifying the vote in Mexico, an option, a message

[mabar]

There is been a debate around nullifying the vote in Mexico, I am pro-nullifying, to me is a message to the system, did not have the opportunity to vote, though, I was not at the city in where I usually vote, but it has been curious to hear those people that are/had been against nullifying the vote, for started my family & friends saw me as I was advocating the devil, though.

This is a video with Denisse Dresser against Leo Zuckerman talking about nullifying the vote, it is Spanish but have English subtitles caption option if you want to see it, Foro TV is a Televisa TV channel, Denisse Dresser is an intellectual leader of the movement anulista (nullifying vote).

http://<iframe width="560" height="...k4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Vote no in Mexico, debate and proposals

The theme of invalid ballots in Mexico has captured, in the face of midterm elections to be held this Sunday June 7 , different media and platforms, creating a real topic of analysis. The positions are diverse, many voices; can also be identified myths that undermine confidence in the anulista posture as well as answers to the same, this set of information has created a debate that then analyze.

The null vote is defined by the Electress National Institute INE , as follows:

a voter deposited in the ballot box, without scoring any box that contains the emblem of a political party; b) one in which the voter marks two or more tables without any coalition between the emblems of the parties that were marked.

Now, with this we find that far abstentionism which is defined as the act in which a potential voter decides not to exercise their right to vote , either for reasons of disinterest in the political system, as well as geographical issues to issue the vow. However states that within the abstention two types can be identified: passive or sociological abstention is one that meets the requirements described above in the definition; and active or ideological abstention , linked to the fact unable to vote motivated by a reject politician who seeks not legitimize the system.

vote no as such can be reduced, technically, a vote that reflects ignorance of the mechanism for casting a valid vote , however, is the null vote intentionally that It discussed and two-way open discussion.

First, the utility may have no vote in protest, and the ideological purpose of a anulista movement. .
2009
In the 2009 elections began A Motion led by intellectuals, businessmen and student groups, who called casting void ballots in protest at the political system and use it as a action of the urgent need to electoral reform. Among the main issues on the agenda of protest they were:. allowing registration of independent candidates, referendum and revocation of office --in this time mid term elections, "independent candidates, like BRONCO, from Nuevo Leon State came from PRI party, though, and there are also the "satellite parties, such as Encuentro Social-related to PRI and Humanista-related to PAN, Morena related to PRD, for examples

The result of the voting itself was achieved register a increased in the null vote; it is estimated that in 2009 this vote amounted to 10.86% in DF, becoming the third force in the vote . In other regions the increase was also recorded in the percentage of invalid votes yet also identified that it is more rural than urban and more regional than national behavior.

Victoria the anulismo and electoral reform
In 2014 it became a electoral reform , and between one of the changes that were in the agenda anulista identified: independent candidates . Also some important reforms, but also other muy short to the national political situation. Denise Dresser, a specialist and one of the intellectual leaders of the movement anulista in 2009 that “the electoral system works very well for parties but very bad for the citizens,” she says. And, although independent candidates listed on the options we have citizens for the next elections, the procedure for these come to have their record is complicated, bureaucratic requirements that look full of endless. Dresser it states that “it is easier to achieve peace in the Middle East to register as an independent candidate in Mexico”. . .

Even with the major pitfalls that, according to experts, are pending for a future comprehensive reform on electoral matters, anulistas a success because, after the 2009 elections, then President Felipe Calderon called for a dialogue with the leaders of the movement were marked anulista to collect their concerns and develop an agenda on the most important points that promoted. Then they joined the dialogue with the then-IFE, also for the outlines of what would be electoral reform in 2014 . Even with all that was left on the road to achieve proportional to the problems in electoral reform, say their movement anulistas put on a high point issues needed to Mexico.

Views
So, on the eve of election day, the 7th of June, we must also change the date to the new reform, the subject of vote null is taking flight as the time approaches for citizens to go to the polls. For one, he was released on a video, which is viralizó through networks, Roberto Duque, professor at the UNAM in electoral law. The author of the video explains his surprise at getting millions of views. In this video states that no vote benefits the parties in the distribution of the budget, while television and the number of multi-named deputies who will be awarded.

Now Two of the intellectuals who led the movement of invalid ballots in 2009, Jose Antonio Crespo and Denise Dresser, have expressed their own arguments; demystified ideas are heard without any foundation as ensuring that no vote benefits the PRI . So, soon after released another video refutes said by the academic Roberto Duque, saying it is not true that the null vote benefits large parties and discusses other myths on this subject. Moreover, it is interesting to see it from start to finish for know the agenda of issues that the movement anulista seeks to light with their protest. .

null
Another view suggests that the null vote is not an element of protest because it “hard data mathematician” does not have results, however, the punishment vote emits a direct message . As punishment vote given to understand that the opposite party that is in power, this allows the alternation and gives a clear message to those who did not exercise the power satisfactorily. For its part, the proposed anulistas that the vote of punishment is more of the same because opposition does not exist as such in the Mexican political system; instead of coming to power-supported by the vote of punishment or useful-vote standardized behavior with the party that left power, ie acquire the same comfortable position that the party Previous and benefits to the same sectors.

It has also said that if a win the inclusion of independent candidates are supported by a vote and that this mechanism is better option no vote.

null vote> abstention and punishment vote
The anulistas suggest that the message their movement is aimed at people undecided and that, so far, do not want to vote . They propose that it is important to exercise the right to vote and if you do not have a candidate or party, even disinterest or satiety system, it’s time to go to the polls in protest. “nullify is to vote” , they say, especially in the absence of a blank vote and other regulations like the spoiled ballot has a legal power and affecting the parties because they would be the thermometer of public perception. In this sense, they added that no vote is not decided by the “least worst candidate” or choose from a handful of candidates with clear deficiencies. In addition to the national political problem it is a systemic one and should require dialogue on these issues because games themselves are not managed these changes

Is it then, vote no, a real choice?
Just know anulista movement’s agenda to make sure that it is a substantive proposal, however, this option is for those who have not decided for a candidate or simply if for those not wish to vote . Join the anulismo would be a measure of moral protest, in any case, but as we saw, the debate is wide. Here are some of the most important issues in anulista calendar , such as those who seek to bring light to the protest at the polls with the null vote.

Create context requirement to shake their complacency parties.

A first step in diagnosing what lacks the political system and promote the necessary changes.

The anulista vote can create an axis of corrective changes to demand, for example, revocation of mandate.

Requiring no vote has legal value.

That the null vote is taken into account in deciding whether the parties maintain registers.

Require the reduction of 50% of public funding for political parties.

Proposal for tying vote no to the amount of resources that are given to the parties.

Fixes to the national anti-corruption system for the privilege is removed.

To be quite a party the appointment of the Directors of INE to ensure their autonomy.

That the list of plurinominales are open to citizens who choose which candidates enter in this way and which are not.

 

[mabar]

Denise Dresser express it better, found it in English, I had been reading her twitter account _https://twitter.com/denisedresserg, I am surprised and, … should not be surprised by the attacks she is receiving.

Mexico Elections: Why I'm Voiding My Ballot - Denise Dresser
Reforma: Denise Dresser
Translated by Amanda Moody

Because I cannot go - in good conscience - to cast a vote which endorses an unfair election, a party system that doesn't punish anyone, a democratic system that is not accountable.

Because I believe that voiding the ballot is better than the abstention which would otherwise be the choice of millions of independent voters, who feel abandoned by the parties we have. To void the vote is to vote, to protest, to act - and not in order to destroy the party system but to make it function better.

Because very few candidates have stepped up to the minimum demand we've made of them - to present their statement of assets, their tax return and their declaration of conflict of interest. Out of more than 10,000 candidates, only 230 have undertaken to be transparent.

Because the independent candidates - valued and welcomed though they are - are not enough to reform the system from within.

Because it is not enough to punish one party by voting for others - for example voting for Morena [the Movement for National Regeneration] to punish the PRD [Party of the Democratic Revolution]- if all the parties end up corrupting themselves in order to compete.

Because if the punishment of voiding the ballot is sufficient, it can lead to a redesign of the rules, as happened after the election of 2009 when Felipe Calderón called together the leaders of the ballot voiding movement and, during marathon sessions in Los Pinos, designed electoral reform that led to re-election, independent candidates, public consultation etc. It is false that voiding the ballot makes no difference.

Because voiding the ballot means the parties must confront the crisis of representation and corruption that they have created. And it does so much more obviously than does abstaining, which can be interpreted as simple inertia, indifference or laziness.

Because, as argued by Miguel Carbonell, the "most voted for" party will be the party of abstention and the voided ballot. And I would prefer the latter to win rather than the former.

Because voiding the ballot can create a crisis of legitimacy significant enough to shake the parties from their complacency.

Because with the current system the punishment vote does not work, it simply strengthens another party which has participated in kickbacks, illegal funding or "legislative grants".

Because it is a myth that a voided ballot is of greater help to the PRI [Party of the Institutional Revolution]. In 2009, the null vote didn't favor any party; in fact converting a partisan vote into a null vote affects the three main parties in similar proportion. Please read Jose Antonio Crespo's articles on the subject in El Universal.

Because those who oppose voiding the ballot argue that it only benefits large parties - as if there were any small parties (the Movement for National Regeneration?) - which represented a credible and convincing alternative.

Because no party has taken the agenda of the fight against corruption and impunity seriously. In cases such as the Casa Blanca [house of Angélica Rivera, president's wife built and financed by government contractor], the opposition parties ceased to be such through their silence.

Because I believe that voiding the ballot can instigate a core of essential corrective changes: reducing the public funding of parties, the proposed tie between the number of voided ballots and the amount of resources allocated to them, removing immunity from prosecution.

Because it urges substantial changes to the system of party financing - full of absurd regulations - which has only produced an overwhelming patronage system with a black market of unregulated money, as argued by Alejandro Poiré in the Financial Times.

Because I refuse to strengthen the status quo, to legitimize the parties responsible for corruption in Iguala, the infiltration of drug trafficking in Jalisco, the conflicts of interest made evident by the Casa Blanca.

Because I cannot cast my vote in a contest in which equity has been irretrievably violated by the systematic and repeated illegal conduct of the Green Party.

Because I refuse to have the ballot in front of me and decide, as Carbonell suggests, between the party of liars, the part of crooks, the party at odds with everyone, the resentful party which renounced one party to found another or the "grasshoppers" [politicians who jump from one party to another in order to run for office] who will do anything to stay alive on the public budget.

Because if we do not void the ballot, things will remain exactly the same. To paraphrase Einstein, it's crazy to repeat the same action but expect a different result. Voting in these conditions, with this public financing system, with these parties and these electoral authorities will not produce anthing different. And I for one think we deserve something better.