Mexico’s Historic Judge Election Sees Shockingly Low 13% Turnout – Why? (Source: Reuters)
What Happened?
Mexico just held its first-ever election for judges – but only 13% of voters showed up, according to Reuters. That means 87% of Mexicans stayed home during this landmark vote for 2,600 judicial positions, including Supreme Court justices.
Why Such Low Numbers?
✅ Too complicated? Voters had to choose from 3,400 mostly unknown candidates (Reuters says many had “questionable credentials”).
✅ Boycott threats: Opposition groups urged people to skip the vote.
✅ No voting requirement: Unlike some countries, Mexico doesn’t force people to vote.
Mixed Reactions:
- President Sheinbaum called it a “complete success” (Reuters).
- Analysts disagree: Goldman Sachs says the low turnout hurts legitimacy, especially after scandals involving candidates linked to drug cartels.
Bigger Concerns:
- Could this reform weaken Mexico’s courts? Critics fear it gives too much power to the government – and even organized crime.
- Election crimes reported: Authorities are investigating 23 cases of possible fraud (Reuters).
What’s Next?
Mexico will hold another judicial election in 2027. Will they fix the problems by then?