[1] It elects one deputy to the lower house of Congress for each three-year legislative session by means of the first-past-the-post system.

Votes cast in the district also count towards the calculation of proportional representation ("plurinominal") deputies elected from the fifth region.

[2][3] Under the National Electoral Institute's 2022 districting plan, which is to be used for the 2024, 2027 and 2030 federal elections,[4] the 2nd district covers the municipalities of Armería, Ixtlahuacán, Manzanillo, Minatitlán and Tecomán.

The district's head town (cabecera distrital), where results from individual polling stations are gathered together and tallied, is Valle de las Garzas near the city of Manzanillo.

[1] As under the 2022 plan: the five municipalities of Armería, Ixtlahuacán, Manzanillo, Minatitlán and Tecomán.