Low Voter Turnout in Mexico's Judicial Election Raises Red Flags

Sun Oct 12 2025 00:27:46 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The recent nationwide judicial election in Mexico faced unprecedented abstention levels, with nearly 90% of voters choosing not to participate, prompting concerns over the process’s legitimacy.

In a significant judicial overhaul, Mexico's election to select judges saw one of the lowest turnouts since its shift to democracy, as voter confusion and allegations of irregularities clouded the event. Only about 12.6% to 13.3% of eligible voters participated, signaling discontent and skepticism towards the new electoral system.

Mexico's much-anticipated judicial election faced a shocking turnout crisis this past Sunday, as nearly 90% of eligible voters abstained from casting their ballots. This election aimed to transition the country’s judicial appointments to a direct voting system, but resulted in one of the lowest participations in a federal election since Mexico embraced democracy in the early 2000s.

According to national electoral authority estimates, only 12.6% to 13.3% of voters participated in the process, indicating widespread confusion and dissatisfaction with the significant reforms being implemented. While proponents argue that the change enhances democracy by allowing voters to choose judges directly, critics view the move as a strategic maneuver by the Morena party, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, to consolidate power.

Voter accounts from the day of the election revealed that many felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of candidates competing for roughly 2,700 judgeships, which included positions on the Supreme Court as well as numerous federal and local courts. Furthermore, electoral observers reported disturbing incidents, including voters relying on cue cards distributed by the ruling party, potentially signaling an effort to influence the voting process in favor of certain candidates.

According to Laurence Pantin, a judicial independence expert and the director of the nonprofit organization Juicio Justo, the election process failed to uphold democratic values. She noted various irregularities, such as groups entering voting booths together, and voters photographing their ballots—a practice commonly associated with vote buying—casting further doubt on the election's integrity.