Ciudad Juárez to Host Public Hearing on Direct Election of Council Members
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua – A public hearing will be held in Ciudad Juárez on Friday, March 6th, 2026, to engage in a dialogue with the Chihuahua State Congress. The discussion will focus on a citizen initiative proposing the direct election of council members by territorial demarcation within the state of Chihuahua.
This event is part of a series of public hearings scheduled throughout March in three municipalities across the state: Ciudad Juárez (March 6th), Chihuahua (March 11th), and Cuauhtémoc (March 18th).
The hearing in Juárez will commence at 5:00 PM at the State Human Rights Commission facilities, located at Avenida De los Insurgentes 4327.
Promoting Citizen Representation
The hearing is being promoted by several organizations, including Plan Estratégico de Juárez, Trabajando por mi Ciudad, Coparmex Chihuahua, Coparmex Nuevo Casas Grandes, Coparmex Ciudad Juárez, the Assembly of Civil Society Organizations of Juárez, and ESE-ERRE. Their collective objective is to facilitate dialogue, analyze, and present arguments concerning the current model for electing council members and its implications for citizen representation.
Currently, council members are appointed through a party-list system. Various sectors have indicated that this mechanism limits territorial representativeness and hinders direct accountability to citizens.
The proposal, driven by civil society, suggests that council members be elected by territorial demarcation. This change would allow for representation that is more closely aligned with the specific issues of each area of the city, fostering a direct link between representatives and the citizenry.
The Importance of Local Governance
The City Council is the body responsible for decisions related to public services, urban development, municipal public safety, and other matters that directly affect the daily lives of the population. Therefore, the model for electing its members significantly impacts the quality of representation and the ability to demand accountability.
The public hearing is a mechanism outlined in the Chihuahua State Citizen Participation Law, enabling citizens to engage directly with authorities on matters of public interest.
This open and free forum will allow individuals to assert their right to direct representation for council members. Participation in such exercises represents a legitimate means of defending the right to influence local government decisions.
