Diaspora voters are playing a crucial role in shaping the outcome of Latin American elections. In Peru, Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as president after winning a close election, with votes from citizens living abroad proving to be the deciding factor. Similarly, in Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella won the presidential election by a margin of 250,000 votes, with the support of voters from abroad.
The Power of the Diaspora Vote
The impact of diaspora voters is being felt across Latin America, with many countries recognizing the importance of allowing their citizens living abroad to participate in the electoral process. In Peru, voting is mandatory for residents abroad, and registration is automatic after a change of address. As a result, over 300,000 people voted from another country in the recent election, with participation reaching 27% in the June runoff.
In contrast, Mexico has a large diaspora population, with over 13 million people living abroad, but only about 185,000 participated in the 2024 elections. This is due in part to restrictive voting laws, which require citizens to have a credential previously processed at a consulate.
Guatemala is another country with a significant diaspora, with about 3 million citizens living abroad. The country implemented out-of-country voting for the first time in 2019, but only 1,443 people voted abroad in the first round of the 2023 election.
The Venezuelan diaspora also has the potential to make a significant impact, with nearly 5 million citizens eligible to vote. However, only about 1% were able to cast their ballots in 2024 due to difficulties with registration, deadlines, and lack of documentation.
Expanding the Right to Vote
Many countries in Latin America are working to expand the right to vote for their citizens living abroad. Colombia and Peru were among the first countries to introduce external voting, with Colombia inaugurating it in 1962 and Peru following in 1980. Since then, more countries have begun to reform their electoral laws to incorporate participation from abroad.
However, there are still challenges to be addressed, including the need for clearer regulation on what is allowed and how activities abroad are financed. Additionally, security concerns must be taken into account, particularly for voters who do not have legal residency in the United States and may be afraid to participate due to the risk of being discovered.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
