Mexico's Electoral Institute Seeks $36 Billion Budget for 2027

Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE) is seeking a substantial budget of over 36.1 billion pesos from the Chamber of Deputies to fund its operations and electoral activities in 2027. The budget proposal, approved by the Temporal Budget Commission, aims to cover the costs associated with preparing for the upcoming electoral cycle.

Of the total requested amount, more than 22.8 billion pesos are designated for electoral activities. This includes the crucial preparations for the midterm elections scheduled for June 6, 2027, which will elect members of the federal Chamber of Deputies. The funds will also support the groundwork for judicial elections and the potential recall of mandate processes slated for 2028. The INE plans to allocate a significant portion, over 13.4 billion pesos, specifically for organizing the federal Chamber of Deputies election, marking a 43.1% increase compared to the 2024 budget.

An additional 14 billion pesos are intended for the INE's operational expenses. This covers essential costs such as salaries for its staff, maintenance of offices, and the procurement of necessary materials and supplies. Notably, nearly 9.5 billion pesos of this operational budget are allocated to salaries alone. The institute also includes a "precautionary budget" of over 4.6 billion pesos, which could be used for organizing a recall of mandate or a popular consultation if required.

The proposed budget also accounts for local elections, with 474 million pesos allocated, representing a significant increase from previous years due to gubernatorial elections in 17 states in 2027. Furthermore, the budget does not include the more than 9 billion pesos that political parties will receive as subsidies, which could push the INE's total expenditure to approximately 45 billion pesos. The General Council is expected to vote on the preliminary budget proposal on August 18.