Can I Vote if I Have Dual Citizenship?

I consider myself very fortunate to have dual citizenship in two equally beautiful countries. Both of my parents are from Mexico; my mom is from Guanajuato and my dad is from Tijuana.

When they met and started dating in the 90’s, my dad had already obtained his green card and had been working in San Diego for years. Once married, they moved to San Ysidro, and a year later I was born in Chula Vista, California, making me a U.S. citizen by birth and a Mexican citizen through my parents. 

I do not think I was ever conscious of my dual citizenship as a kid. After my mom gave birth to me, we moved back to Tijuana so my grandma could help take care of me as a newborn. Hence, I grew up in Tijuana while my dad commuted to work in San Diego. In some sort of way I knew that our family was not “normal” because I would only see my dad some days and other days he was in “el otro lado.”

Towards the end of the 4th grade, my family made the decision of moving back to the U.S. to facilitate work conditions for my dad, to be together as a family, and ultimately to have a better life. 

Having roots in both nations has definitely shaped the person that I am today and I would not have it any other way. My childhood in Mexico taught me my core values, while my teenage years and adulthood here in the U.S. have taught me practical values, skills, and have shaped me as a person.  

Neither of my parents have ever been too involved in politics. They view Mexican politics as corrupt and incapable of having a profound positive effect on the country, and are not typically involved in American politics either. I would say they both have their personal opinions on politics, but they ultimately hold themselves neutral towards politics of any kind.

As for me, I would definitely say I’m more involved in U.S. politics compared to Mexico’s. I have to admit that this decision is mostly due to convenience. I am much more conscious of the resources available here in the U.S. and this facilitates my involvement. 

Although I do visit Tijuana frequently, I do not think my engagement with the Mexican electoral process is influenced. I wish this were different and hope to change it in the future. The only way my involvement with U.S. politics could be affected by my travels to Mexico is if I were to stay for long periods of time or if my internet connection was weak. 

It is much easier to stay on top of U.S. politics because my life is here and my surroundings make me aware of any updates or changes that happen. On the other hand, staying informed with Mexico’s politics involves the additional step of actually researching how to request updates. As far as I know, and by what my mom tells me, the Mexican electoral process is a bit more old-school, which makes paperwork and active involvement complicated.

I do vote in both countries. Voting in Mexico involved a whole process because there were some paperwork issues we had to resolve, but it is 100% worth it. 

I could say that the process was a bit different when it came to voting in Mexico, but I think it was mainly a personal circumstance that implicated extra steps. In order to vote in Mexico you have to have a Mexican ID issued, and when I started the process we noticed there was a mistake in my birth certificate so we had to get that fixed before I could carry on with the process. I am sure that anyone who is a sole citizen would not have to go through additional paperwork like I did. 

Not really, my time living in Mexico was early on in my childhood when I didn't even know what voting was. My life has been spent here in the U.S. ever since I have been able to vote, and there has been no need for me to request an absentee ballot. 

I am not necessarily surprised by the large number of American citizens who reside in Mexico, because it is known that Mexico is much more affordable compared to the cost of living in the U.S. This is much more common here in San Diego because of our proximity with Tijuana. People retire and decide to buy land or properties in Rosarito where they’ll be close to the border, the beach, and make a decent living out of their pension.

The fact that only six percent actually vote is unfortunate, but I do believe that this might be because people aren’t aware of absentee ballots.  

I choose to be active in Mexican elections because I want to exercise my right as a Mexican citizen and be part of the shaping of our country. It can be easy to overlook involvement in either election but dual citizens have to realize how fortunate they are to be able to vote in two different countries. It is a luxury that not many have. 

I would say that being a dual citizen is a privilege, and those who meet the requirements must take advantage and exercise their rights in both countries.

Dual citizenship expands one’s horizons and broadens perspectives, it allows individuals to immerse in different cultures and embrace their richness.

People might overthink it because of any paperwork involved, but you cannot compare a couple visits to a governmental office or whatnot to the lifelong recognition of citizenship in another country.  

Voting is a luxury that not every individual has. It allows citizens to be part of a country’s faith, and it is a reflection of our ideologies and hopes for the future. Dual citizens are twice as lucky, as we get to use our power in two countries, both completely different and both requiring a diligent thought process. I encourage all dual citizens to make the effort, take that extra step, and participate in both elections. Make your voice heard!