Mexico's INE establishes protocols to detect and prosecute 'planchadas' ballot fraud for 2027 elections

The National Electoral Institute (INE) has formalized guidelines to identify 'planchadas'—a form of ballot stuffing or pre-marked voting fraud—and mandate reporting to the Prosecutor's Office. This move signals an intensified effort to mitigate electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 cycle, though the efficacy of these detection mechanisms remains to be tested.