Nearly 90 percent of voters abstained from participating in a recent nationwide election for judges in Mexico, marking one of the lowest turnouts in any federal election since the country’s transition to democracy. Estimates from the national electoral authority indicated that only between 12.6 percent and 13.3 percent of eligible voters cast ballots during the election.
This low turnout has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the election, which is part of a major overhaul of the judicial system that shifts the selection of judges from appointments to a popular vote. Supporters argue that this change enhances democracy, while critics view it as a move by the governing leftist Morena party to consolidate power.
Voters who did participate reported confusion over the large number of candidates for nearly 2,700 judgeships. Electoral monitoring groups noted irregularities, including voters using cheat sheets and entering booths in groups, leading to suspicions of vote buying.
President Claudia Sheinbaum described the election as a significant democratic event, despite the stark contrast to the 60 percent turnout in the previous year's presidential election. She pointed out that the turnout for this election was still higher than the 7 percent participation in a 2021 referendum related to former presidents.
The judicial overhaul, proposed by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, aims to eliminate corruption and nepotism within the judiciary, which has faced criticism for obstructing governmental projects. Preliminary results suggested that candidates affiliated with the Morena party were likely to secure seats on the Supreme Court, raising fears about the potential erosion of the separation of powers.
Some voters expressed frustration and confusion over the process, with one participant admitting to randomly selecting candidates. Political analysts noted that while voter turnout in judicial elections can be low globally, the challenges facing Morena in delivering effective judicial reform could present significant issues in the future.
Arturo Castillo Loza, a member of the electoral agency’s governing body, emphasized the difficulties faced in organizing the election, citing insufficient funding and legal challenges from the judiciary. The election results for the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, were not expected to be finalized until later in the week due to the manual counting of paper ballots.