President defends Mexico’s electoral system amid warnings from former Colombian leader of manipulation

Mariam Ashalem De Andres

Mexico’s president defended the country’s electoral system on Monday after Colombia’s former leader warned about possible manipulation through algorithms, artificial intelligence, and social media.

“It’s the citizens that count the votes,” Claudia Sheinbaum told a morning news conference, defending Mexico’s electoral model.

She said the National Electoral Institute is responsible for organizing elections, with the Electoral Tribunal responsible for certifying the results.

Sheinbaum said Mexican citizens selected to serve on polling station boards count the votes, distinguishing the system from Colombia’s, where former President Gustavo Petro has raised concerns about private companies involved in the counting process.

The Mexican president acknowledged that irregularities have occurred at polling stations.

She said there have been cases involving alterations to electoral records and possible irregularities in the Preliminary Electoral Results Program.

Sheinbaum said authorities should identify networks financed to spread political propaganda in different countries and urged political parties to fulfill their responsibilities during elections.

Petro warned during his visit to Mexico about the use of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and social media to influence elections.

He said such tools had played a role in Colombia’s presidential election and urged governments to strengthen political communication to counter such operations.

Petro also raised his concerns with Sheinbaum during a meeting at Mexico’s National Palace last week, according to the Mexican president.

During his visit, Petro claimed that 2 million bots had been used to influence voting in Colombia. He warned that Mexico could face similar risks from digital manipulation.

Colombia’s electoral authorities declared Abelardo de la Espriella president-elect in June. The Organization of American States recognized the result and highlighted the acceptance of the outcome by his main rival, Ivan Cepeda.

Mexico’s next major electoral process will take place amid growing debate over the role of digital platforms, political advertising, and AI in shaping voters’ opinions and influencing democratic processes.