Mexico's First Judicial Election: A Historic Vote Amidst Challenges

Mexico's Historic First Judicial Election: Highlighting Successes and Challenges Mexico witnessed a landmark event on June 1st, 2025, with its inaugural judicial election. This election marked a pivotal moment in the country's history, as citizens directly elected 881 judicial officials, including nine new justices for the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). The participation rate, though not exceptionally high, fell between 12.57% and 13.32%, according to the INE (National Electoral Institute). The day unfolded with various levels of success. While 83,848 polling stations (99.9% of the total) opened successfully, allowing citizens to exercise their right to choose their representatives, challenges emerged in some areas. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's participation added an element of intrigue, with his statement, “It's a historic election. Never before in our country's history has the people had the right to directly elect judges, magistrates, and ministers,” underscoring the significance of the event. However, the INE also reported 1,770 incidents, though 80% were resolved satisfactorily. Significantly, 50 polling stations failed to open across the country, with Chiapas reporting the highest number (17), followed by San Luis Potosí (13), and Michoacán and Puebla (4 each). The reasons cited for these failures included altered ballots, absent officials, and, in some cases, insecurity. A particularly concerning incident involved the theft of 25 electoral packages containing 131,000 ballots in Chiapas. Despite these challenges, the overall process demonstrated Mexico's commitment to strengthening its judicial system through direct citizen participation. The INE's efficient resolution of 80% of the reported incidents suggests a robust system for addressing challenges, and the fact that the election proceeded largely without major disruptions shows the resilience of the electoral process. The final results are expected by June 15th, marking a significant step toward a more democratic and accountable judiciary.