Tucson, Arizona Wednesday, 27 August 2003
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY - Migrants from the Mexican state of Zacatecas living in the United
States will be able to vote and run for election in their home state thanks
to a constitutional amendment approved by the state's congress over the weekend.
"This law serves to recognize the political rights of migrants,"
said Zacatecas Gov. Ricardo Monreal, who was in Mexico City to discuss migration
issues with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano. "This is a reform that should've
taken place a long time ago."
The law allows migrants to run for most state posts except the governor's office
or federal Congress, and two out of 30 state congress seats will be allotted
to migrants, Monreal said.
Zacatecas has been a leader in encouraging links between migrants and their
home state. Monreal, who has already announced his intention to run for president
in 2006, hopes this will be an example to other states with large numbers of
migrants.
How migrants will exercise their right to vote is not clear. Zacatecas officials
are considering having voting booths at Mexican consulates in the United States
or using online voting.
Zacatecas, about 300 miles northwest of Mexico City, is one of the main feeder
states for undocumented migrants to the United States.
There are about 1.5 million Zacatecans, half of the state's population, spread across 20 American states, with the majority living in California, Texas and Illinois.