Mexico's INE Deploys Real-Time Biometric Verification for Online Voting

The National Electoral Institute (INE) has introduced real-time biometric authentication to verify voters’ identities in digital voting processes. The system, first used during Coahuila’s local election, matches a facial photo captured on the voter’s device with the image stored in the electoral register and incorporates ten fingerprint records for each citizen.

The technology aims to reduce identity fraud in online voting, internet vote‑by‑mail, and other citizen services such as candidacy registration and party affiliation. INE also used the same biometric data to clean the federal electoral roll, canceling 4,266 duplicate records between June 2024 and June 2026. Currently about 94 % of the register includes ten fingerprints, with the remaining 6 % retaining only two. Biometric data are stored exclusively by INE and are not shared with other public or private entities.

The move is presented as a step toward more secure and efficient electronic public services while safeguarding personal data.