Mexico's Electoral Court Reverses Jalisco Gender‑Parity Rule

The Superior Chamber of Mexico's Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) annulled the regulations that required political parties to nominate only women as municipal presidents in eight Jalisco municipalities for the 2027 elections. The measures, originally introduced by the Jalisco Electoral Institute (IEPC) to guarantee female representation—and, in some cases, to restrict candidates to women belonging to historically discriminated groups such as indigenous peoples, people with disabilities or LGBTTTIQ individuals—were deemed to exceed constitutional limits and to infringe on parties’ internal autonomy.

The ruling sets a precedent that limits how electoral bodies nationwide can impose gender‑quota rules. Movimiento Ciudadano blamed the ruling on Morena, calling it a setback for women's political rights. The PRI described the decision as a “retroceso” but pledged to field women in more than half of its municipal candidacies, focusing on municipalities that have never had a female mayor. The court’s judgment emphasizes that while parity must be respected, affirmative‑action measures cannot be overly restrictive or exclusive.

The decision affects the upcoming municipal elections in Jalisco, reshapes party strategies regarding gender representation, and may influence future regulations by the National Electoral Institute (INE) and other state electoral authorities.