One of the most important contributions of the political reform of the last decade of the XX century, was the establishment of specialized electoral institutions: For the case of the capital of the country, the legal instrument that determines the existence of such institutions is the Government Statute of the Federal District, which defines as electoral authorities the Electoral Institute of the Federal District (IEDF) and the Electoral Court for the Federal District (TEDF).  

These instances are responsible of organizing the election and definitely solve the controversies which could be aroused, to elect the members of two of the three powers that constitute the governmental entities of Mexico City. Actually, in its article 120, the egdf sets forth that the representatives of the legislative power (deputies), executive power (Head of Government) and the heads of the political-administrative organizations of the territorial localities (heads of the boroughs) shall be elected through free, authentic and periodical elections by means of the issuance of the universal, free, secret and direct vote.

Electoral Institute of the Federal District

In its articles 123 and 124 the egdf sets forth that the organization of the local elections is responsibility of a public autonomous organization named the Electoral Institute of the Federal District (IEDF), with legal personality and patrimony of its own. In such organization the political parties and the citizens participate pursuant to the provisions set forth by the law. According to the provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States in its article 41 section V, last paragraph, as well as, article 210 of the CEDF, IEDF can convene with the IFE that the later takes charge of the organization of the local electoral process in the Federal District under the terms established by the law.

The directive entity of this instance is the General Council made up of seven Electoral Councilors, one of which will be the chairman, and all of which will have the right of expression and vote. The representatives of the political parties and one member of each parliamentary group with representation in the Legislative Assembly will also be members of the General Council with right of expression but no right to vote.  

Article 127 of the EGDF specifies that the iedf is entrusted in an integral and direct manner with the following activities:

• training and civic education,

• electoral geography,

• the rights and prerogatives of the political parties,

• the registry and list of voters,

• printing the electoral materials,

• preparation of the elections,

• counting the votes,

• the declaration of validity and granting of records in the elections for deputies, Head of Government and heads of the political-administrative entities of the territorial localities,

• the regulation of the electoral observation and of the polls or opinion measurements with electoral purposes.

Besides of the provisions of the EGDF, the legal framework that is the basis for carrying out the activities of the IEDF is the Electoral Code for the Federal District (CEDF).

In its article 86 this law sets forth that the Electoral Institute of the Federal District is a permanent, independent and autonomous entity, with legal capacity and patrimony of its own, whose purposes and actions are directed, among others, to:

• Contribute to the development of the democratic life;

• Strengthen the regime of Political Parties;

• Protect the political-electoral rights of the citizens;

• Secure the periodic and pacific holding of executions, as well as of the procedures of citizen participation;

• Promote and preserve the authenticity and effectiveness of the vote;

• Disseminate the civic culture through specific programs.

For the compliance of these tasks, pursuant to the provisions of article 88 of the CEDF, the IEDF has the following structure:

• General Council;

• Executive Commission;

• Executive Secretariat;

• Administrative Secretariat;

• Executive Directions;

• Technical units;

• General Comptroller;

• A decentralized entity for each local electoral district named District Direction, and

• Directive Boards of the Polling Stations.

As regards the non concentrated entities, these are in charge of applying the law as well as the resolutions and programs approved by the General Council in its territorial scope and during the elections they become District Councils.

Additionally, it is important to mention that the participation of the citizens and the political parties is secured in the integration of the Institute through two ingredients of the foregoing structure: the Directive Boards of the Polling Stations (MDC) and the District Councils. Actually, the MDC that are installed during the elections to receive the votes is integrated only by citizens, and on the other hand, the District Councils are composed, exception made for the Chairman Counselor, by citizens that are appointed by the General Council after a public and open process of selection.

In this sense, the political parties in order to comply with their functions have a permanent representation in the General Council and at the District Councils during the elections, as well as in the Directive Boards of the Polling Stations on the day of the elections.

Electoral Court for the Federal District

Pursuant to articles 128, 129 and 132 of the egdf, the Electoral Court for the Federal District (tedf) is the autonomous entity that represents the maximum authority to solve the controversies in electoral matters at the Federal District. Its members are elected by the aldf by proposal of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Federal District. It can solve definitely and incontestably regarding the following:

• The objections to the local elections for deputies, Head of Government and the heads of the political-administrative entities of the territorial localities;

• The objection of acts and resolutions that violate the political-electoral rights of the citizens to vote and be elected;

• The objections at the procedure of plebiscite;

• The conflicts or differences in labor matters between the Electoral Court and its employees and between the iedf and its employees;

• Determination and imposing sanctions in the electoral matters.