It’s very depressing. We’ve fought for years to have a voice, only to have this kind of result. I think if we have 4,000 who actually vote, it’ll be a lot.’
- Francisco Javier Moreno, president of a Southern California federation of Michoacan state hometown clubs

The same apathy that plagues American voters is starting to rub off on Mexicans living abroad, particularly here in the United States. After a long political struggle to allow Mexican citizens abroad the opportunity to vote in their home country’s election it seems that the turnout will be dismal.

“…only 2,100 out of an estimated 4 million Mexicans eligible to vote in the United States have mailed in requests for absentee ballots, as the voter registration drive approaches its halfway mark.”

Some Mexican citizens living here in the U.S. believe that they no longer have much of a connection with Mexico, or they don’t know who to vote for. They may think that it doesnt affect them since they have a new life in the U.S., but there will always be a bond. As long as those hard earned dollars keep making their way south it is crucial that Mexicans abroad take part in the coming election.

“Mexicans living abroad will send an estimated $20 billion in remittances this year to relatives back home, the country’s second-largest revenue source behind petroleum.”

The Mexican politicians realize how important Mexicans abroad are or else this voting plan would have never come to fruition. It is time for all Mexican citizen to vote for a better Mexico no matter if you plan on never returning. You owe it to your fellow citizens that stayed behind.

Via / Los Angeles Times