Thread: Mexican election coming to N.C.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/14680166.htm

Posted on Sat, May. 27, 2006

Mexican election coming to N.C.
714 in state, 126 in S.C. on rolls for presidential vote in homeland

DÁNICA COTO
dcoto@charlotteobserver.com

Several hundred Mexicans living in North Carolina are receiving their ballots this month to elect a new Mexican president, and candidates are touting immigration reforms to gain their votes.

It's the first time that Mexicans living abroad can vote, and North Carolina ranked eighth nationwide in the number who signed up, with 714 voters. South Carolina came in at No. 30, with 126 voters, according to Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute.

It's unknown how many Mexicans living in the Carolinas were eligible to vote in the July 2 elections. Critics say a low voter-registration turnout was caused by registration forms being available only online or at Mexican government offices, in addition to people not having enough time to obtain their voter credentials in Mexico.

Charlotte resident Amador Ramírez, 43, is voting for the first time since he left Mexico eight years ago, and he can't wait.

"We didn't come here for vacation," he said. "We're interested in what's happening in our country. The idea is that hopefully we can go back and have a different kind of life."

Ramírez and other voters in North Carolina who registered by Jan. 15 are receiving their ballots this month. The packet includes a ballot, two DVDs and a brochure in which five main candidates outline their plan.

Candidates are focused on improving lives for Mexicans living abroad and improving conditions at home. Most also talk of working diplomatically with the U.S. to make these changes happen.

It's hard to choose someone after listening to so much rhetoric, Ramírez said.

"I heard a candidate say, `I'm going to make sure those who left the country looking for work come back,' " he said. "Well, how's he going to do that?"

Approximately 550,000 Mexicans live in the Carolinas; thousands of them are undocumented workers who left behind impoverished towns seeking plentiful jobs and good pay.

An increase in their numbers has intensified the immigration debate nationwide and prompted Carolinas lawmakers to consider new policies.

One proposal would require state agencies to use a program that scans immigration and Social Security records to verify authenticity of certain documents.

That's why immigration and education are important topics to José Olguín, a Charlotte resident and volunteer who handed out thousands of ballots to potential voters.

"By generating educational opportunities, you generate work, and then people don't need to come here," Olguín said.

He's waiting to vote, and is monitoring Galavisión, Univisión and CNN En Español to get a well-rounded view of the candidates. It's been 19 years since he's been able to vote in Mexican elections.

This election is one of the biggest in years, said Rodrigo Pintado, documentation officer at the Mexican Consul in Raleigh.

"Several years ago, there wasn't any doubt about who would win the election," he said. "Now, nobody knows."

The Institutional Revolutionary Party was considered Mexico's official party from the 1920s to the 1990s. Now, people can influence the outcome with their vote, he said.

"It's very easy to say that things are not going well in Mexico, and that it's impossible for things to change," Pintado said. "A vote is the strongest liaison you have with your country."

Not every Mexican, though, was excited about the prospect of voting abroad for the first time, said Marcela Azuela, with Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute.

She visited North Carolina in January to distribute ballots at restaurants, grocery stores and churches in Durham and answer any questions about the process.

"There were people who said, `That's great,' but I also ran into a lot of indifference," she said. "There's anger toward Mexico. There are people who left thinking they would never come back."

Fast Facts on Mexican Voters Living Abroad

• Of the approximately 4 million eligible voters, 40,854 registered this year. Of those, 36,746 live in the U.S.• The top three states with the most registered voters. California, 13,433; Texas, 5,793; and Illinois, 3,590.

• Of the 714 registered voters in North Carolina, 115 are in the Charlotte area, the highest in the state. Raleigh followed with 10 percent, Durham with 5 percent and Winston-Salem with 4 percent.

Candidates for Mexico's President

• Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa, with the National Action Party, says Mexicans living in the U.S. are key to Mexico's future because they send millions of dollars back home each year.

Calderón says he wants those with a Mexican ID card to be able to receive a U.S. driver's license. He's also in favor of a program where Mexicans paying Social Security in the U.S. can receive benefits in Mexico once they return for retirement.

• Roberto Madrazo Pintado, with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, promises to create 9 million jobs in the next six years. He also proposes to establish a migrant fund to create jobs, especially for women, in places with high emigration rates. He also wants a cheaper way to send money back to Mexico.

• Andrés Manuel López Obrador, with the Democratic Revolution Party, said his plan to eradicate poverty includes cutting the current presidential salary in half, paying for meals for the elderly and providing free education.

• Roberto Campa Cifrián, with New Alliance, said he's in favor of cracking down on drug trafficking and organized crime, but that the U.S. should recognize the indispensable role Mexicans play in its economy.

• Patricia Mercado Castro, with the Alternative National Political Party, was the only candidate who talked about losing highly skilled workers, such as scientists and engineers, and the need to bring them back.
Dánica Coto: (704) 358-5065

This is NOT Right !

This should NOT be allowed to happen.

Whether it is allowed in Mexico or not, it should be a crime in every state to vote in the election of another country.

Allowing this to take place is one more step that takes our sovereignty away.

It is also part of the CONDITIONING PROCESS to allow us to

Find officials FROM OTHER NATIONS routinely violating our borders,

and Coming in Here to campaign, for their own country somewhere else.


They Should have to chose between the U.S. and their home country, ESPECIALLY where the other nation is working Against the People of the USA.

Mexico works against the American People, every moment of every day.


Vicente Fox addressed the California State Legislature This Week.

He Told them that ONE MILLION people cross the Border Back and Forth
EVERY DAY.

Maria Shriver (wife of the Calif. Gov) was there, and she did plenty of clapping for Vincente Fox.

What really is the kicker is that these Illegal aliens are also being registered to illegally vote in the US but as always our de-facto Mexican government in Washington will turn a blind eye.


IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!