Automatic Electoral Registry for Migrants and Awareness Raising of Political Rights in Buenos Aires

In 2022, the General Directorate of Political and Electoral Reform of the Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) launched a ‘Migrant Electoral Guide’, in collaboration with IOM Argentina and UNDP. The guide, available in Spanish, French, Catalan, Guaraní, Chinese, and Korean, is a step-by-step informative tool to promote autonomous participation in local elections and the exercise of political rights for migrants residing in the city.

The guide emerged with the approval in 2018 of the Electoral Code Law No. 6031 of the CABA which allows foreigners, from 16 years of age with permanent residence in the City, to vote in local elections without the need for any prior registration.

The guide is produced as part of the 'In the City, You Vote' (En la Ciudad, Votás) program, whose objective is to raise awareness about the voting rights of migrants and to encourage their participation.

This program, which is ongoing, will offer a range of awareness raising programs, such as the set-up of ‘Information and Consultation Stands’, located in strategic places within the city. It will also provide the space to train and exchange organizations and community representatives who have close ties to the migrant population.