**INE Expands Youth Consultation to Incarcerated Youth in Tijuana and Mexicali**
The National Electoral Institute (INE) has extended its 2024 Children’s and Youth Consultation to include incarcerated youth in Tijuana and Mexicali, as part of an effort to engage vulnerable groups. On November 4, INE conducted the consultation at juvenile detention centers, recording participation from five individuals in Mexicali and 26 in Tijuana. Liliana Díaz de León Zapata, the executive vocal for the INE in Baja California, announced these details on November 7.
The initiative aims to enable adolescents between 15 and 17 years old, who are serving sentences in penitentiary systems, to express their opinions. Díaz de León Zapata emphasized the importance of collaborating with the Penitentiary System Commission to include these young people in the consultation. Additionally, plans are underway to extend the consultation to three adolescents in Ensenada who fall within the eligible age range.
INE is working with the State Educational System to facilitate the traditional format of the consultation by setting up physical or virtual booths across all schools in the state. Efforts are also being made to include participation from children in shelters, migrant centers, and more detention centers.
“This initiative ensures the participation rights of individuals who meet the age requirements and are in detention centers. It is crucial for authorities to coordinate actions that offer them this opportunity to participate,” stated Díaz de León Zapata.
The overarching goal is to achieve a total of 215,451 participants from the ages of 3 to 17. Topics covered in the consultation include safe community spaces, environmental and animal care, and addiction prevention.
Upon completion, the consultation results will be shared with various government bodies — including the State Government, State Congress, and local municipalities — in hopes of creating an actionable agenda benefiting children and adolescents in Baja California.
**Secondary Article: Expanding Electoral Participation**
In parallel news, the National Electoral Institute’s efforts exemplify a broader commitment to inclusivity in political engagement. With similar initiatives observed worldwide, the focus is increasingly on reaching underrepresented groups, such as incarcerated youth, to encourage civic participation.
For instance, Australia and New Zealand have introduced electoral programs aimed at young people in detention facilities, fostering a sense of involvement and understanding of democratic systems. Experts argue that such inclusionary practices are critical in building a participatory democracy that reflects the voices of all societal sectors.
The success of these global programs underscores the potential impact of the INE’s initiative, serving as a model for future electoral engagements on both regional and international levels.