The simulation is over: Jalisco imposes real parity on political parties

The Jalisco Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute (IEPCJ) has approved historic guidelines for 2027 that will require political parties to nominate only women in eight key municipalities, such as Zapopan, and to guarantee spaces for young people and other vulnerable groups.

Guadalajara, Jalisco.- Jalisco's political arena is preparing for an unprecedented structural change. The General Council of the Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute (IEPCJ) approved a series of parity and inclusion guidelines that will be mandatory for all political parties in the 2027 midterm elections.

These new rules, described as a tool to "build a level playing field," go beyond traditional quotas and represent a direct intervention to correct historical imbalances in the state's political representation.

The IEPCJ's decision is not arbitrary; it is based on a compelling diagnosis. An analysis by the institute revealed that, despite gender parity being a constitutional principle since 2019, a woman has never governed in 49 municipalities in Jalisco.

This data shows that political parties, while complying with the requirement to nominate an equal number of men and women, often did so in a simulated manner, assigning female candidates to municipalities or districts with little or no chance of winning.

To break this cycle, the IEPCJ has taken a drastic measure:

• Municipalities Reserved for Women: In the 2027 elections, political parties will be required to nominate women exclusively for municipal presidencies in eight high-population municipalities where reelection is not possible. These are: Zapopan, Tonalá, San Juan de los Lagos, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, La Barca, Autlán de Navarro, Chapala, and Poncitlán.

The guidelines don't stop at gender parity. They also establish affirmative actions to ensure the inclusion of five historically underrepresented groups:

• Young people (18 to 29 years old)
• Indigenous people
• People with disabilities
• People of sexual diversity (LGBTTTIQ+)
• Jalisco residents living abroad

To ensure their participation, parties must nominate candidates from these groups in the first eight places on their lists for proportional representation seats. In addition, specific quotas are established for young candidates in the state's 125 municipalities.

"What we're seeking is to build a level playing field for those who historically haven't had one. These are temporary actions, until we achieve a level playing field." – Electoral Councilor Melissa Amezcua Yépiz.

Councilor Amezcua Yépiz was emphatic: these rules are not a suggestion. "If the parties don't comply, there will be no registration," she warned, making it clear that the IEPCJ will not accept candidate lists that don't adhere to the new guidelines.

The approval of these rules two years in advance is intended to give parties time to identify and train new political cadres and adapt their internal strategies. However, strong resistance from traditional power structures is anticipated, and legal challenges to the institute's decision are not ruled out, which foreshadows intense political and legal debate in the coming years.