From Selection to Election: the Selecting Directors Process and the Integrity of Subnational Elections in Mexico (2015-2018)

This article offers evidence of the impact of the local electoral management body (EMB) composition on electoral integrity of local elections between 2015 and 2018 in Mexico. When decision makers make exceptions in the selection procedure of members, or make a biased interpretation of the rules, the quality of the EMB diminishes, and it affects the integrity of elections. This work is based on original data on the quality of the selection process of the electoral councilors of the local EMB and the integrity of the subnational elections in Mexico. Results points out that where the quality of the conformation of the local EMB has been lower, it is also where less integral elections have been held.