In the article 1, the CEDF regulates the provisions that the Political Constitution for the Mexican United States and the Government Statutes for the Federal District set forth regarding the following:
I. Exercise of the political-electoral rights and obligations of the citizens, (articles 5—7).
The CEDF sets forth that all the citizens have the right to vote and be elected for offices of popular election, as well as the right to freely associate and participate in a pacific manner in the political matter of the capital city, through a Political Association, and to take part as observers in all stages of the electoral processes and civic participation.
Also determine that citizens are required to be registered in the Federal Register of Electors, having voting card with DF address, voting in the right section, exercising the functions designated by the election authority and performing the popular election offices as provided in the CPEUM.
II. The prerogatives, rights and obligations of the Political Associations, (articles 15 – 85).
In this law, it is established that the citizens can associate politically through the model of Political Associations in which the National and Local Political Parties and the Political Organizations are comprised, although only the first two of the later are entitled to participate at the local elections. It is relevant to mention that the Political Parties can create Coalitions or use the model of Common Candidate to propose the same candidates at the elections of the Federal District.
The CEDF sets forth which are the rights, obligations and prerogatives that the Political Associations enjoy, among which the public and private funding. It is important to mention that comprised as the public funding the prerogatives for the access to the radio and television are granted, in accordance to the provisions of article 41, Base III, Section B of the CPEUM. Also, the CEDF sets forth that the IEDF by means of the Technical Specialized Unit of Surveillance of the General Council will have the necessary authorities to survey and investigate the origin, amount, destiny and application of the resources of the Political Associations (provision that is linked to the provisions of the third paragraph of article 124 of the EGDF).
Among the obligations of political associations are allowing the practice of audits and inspections ordered by the electoral authority of financial backing, as well as post on their website the spending and annual budgets, the tab of posts and salaries, the personal property and real estate acquired and appeals submitted to the electoral authorities, among others.
III. Procedure of organizing the elections for Head of Government, deputies of the Legislative Assembly and heads of the boroughs (articles 8 – 14 and 211 – 316).
To comply with the EGDF, this law provides that the Electoral Institute of the Federal District is in charge of calling and organizing the electoral process and the citizen participation at the capital of the country, in accordance to this procedures clearly defined by the CEDF. Thus, there are four defined stages to carry out an electoral process:
- Preparation of the election,
- Elections,
- Vote counting and results of the elections and
- Declaration of validity
Every six years a Head of Government is elected and each three years 16 Heads of Borough and the 66 deputies that form the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District. In the case of the latter, 40 deputies are elected by the principle of plurality system through local district of single member district and 26 deputies are elected by the principle of proportional representation (natural quotient and higher remainder, to those parties that obtained at least 2% of the total votes).
IV. Electoral infractions and sanctions, (articles 172 – 175).
The CEDF sets forth which are the electoral infractions and the sanctions imposed to those who commit the infraction, whether they are citizens or authorities of the Federal District, electoral officers, political organizations or even public notaries. The sanctions can go from a public warning up or a fine to the total suspension of the public financing imbursements, for the case of Political Associations.
V. The electoral investigation procedures, (articles 60 – 61).
The CEDF sets forth the process that must be observed for the investigation of the acts relative to the electoral campaigns.
It consists to submit a request of investigation to the Technical Specializing Unit of Surveillance of the General Council of the IEDF, attaching the corresponding proofs, in order that this Unit of Surveillance can elaborate an opinion which allows the General Council, if it proceeds, to determine the sanctions established by the Law. It is necessary to point out that this request of investigation can be done for the Political Parties or Coalitions.
The Surveillance Commission of the General Council will be in charge of this procedure, and with the purpose to allow its suitable functioning, the CEDF grants the Commission the authority to request the federal electoral authorities to carry out the procedures to trespass the benefits of banking, fiduciary and fiscal secrecy when the revisions to the reports of the Political Parties and Associations require so.
VI. The organization and competence of the Electoral Institute of the Federal District and of the Electoral Court of the Federal District. (86 – 149 y 176 – 201).
The text of the CEDF sets forth the manner in which the two electoral authorities of the Federal District are formed, as well as their structure, their inheritance and authorities.
Additionally, the CEDF also defines the territorial scope (local district, Borough, section) in which the elections can be carried out, and sets forth the authority of the IEDF to divide the capital of the country into districts, as well as the criteria to do it (article 202).
Because the manner that the Electoral Institute of the Federal District fails to have electoral instruments of its own (general catalogue of electors, electoral register and voter list), the terms of collaboration relationship with the Federal Electoral Institute are defined (articles 204 – 210).