Mexico has extensive
provisions regarding the misuse of administrative resources. The Federal Code
of Electoral Institutions and Procedures (COFIPE) forbids the use of social
programs and of federal, state, municipal, or Federal District resources in order
to induce or coerce citizens to vote for or against any political party or
candidate from the start of the campaign to the elections. In April 2013, the
head of Mexico's Social Development department dismissed seven officials after
some were mentioned in taped discussions about using anti-poverty programs
(i.e. providing small monthly stipends to poor families and handing out
government-supplied wheelchairs) to promote the governing party in the 2013
local elections.
