Sheinbaum Calls for Voter Turnout in Historic Judicial Election and Expects “High Participation”

Sheinbaum Calls for Voting

Judicial Election This Sunday

Risks and Controversies Persist

Just two days before Mexico holds its first-ever judicial election, President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to head to the polls and expressed confidence in a “very significant” turnout.

During her Friday morning press conference, the president called on Mexicans to exercise their right to vote on Sunday, June 1, in a process that will determine the new members of the judiciary.

“On Sunday, I’m sure there will be very significant participation by the people of Mexico in the judiciary election, and we will witness a peaceful election,” she declared.

Sheinbaum stated she expects a day free of incidents and predicted that “it’s going to be a great day” for the country.

Sheinbaum Calls for Voting in Unprecedented Election

Sheinbaum Calls for Voting in Judicial Election – Photo: Shutterstock

In this election, 99.7 million voters are called to the polls to choose 881 judicial positions from more than 3,400 registered candidates.

Among the positions to be filled are new seats on the Supreme Court of Justice, the newly established Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal, and the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF).

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The scale of the process makes it an unprecedented event, but it has also sparked criticism due to its complexity and the potential risks involved.

Recent polls paint a discouraging picture, with estimated voter turnout ranging between 5% and 20%.

Public Participation Raises Doubts and Contrasts

Experts and polling firms attribute the low expectations in the judiciary election to widespread lack of knowledge about the positions being contested and the general disinterest often associated with judicial bureaucracy.

Moreover, in recent days, “cheat sheets” or suggested voting lists have circulated, distributed by organizations linked to Morena, triggering criticism over alleged voter coercion.

The criticism is not limited to the ruling party: the opposition, international bodies, and civil society organizations have expressed concern over the potential involvement of criminal groups in the candidacies.

Various voices have warned about the risk of inexperienced candidates, individuals with questionable ties, or even criminal backgrounds gaining access to key positions in the justice system.

Criticism Over Voting Guides and Potential Risks

“In addition to the risk of unqualified candidates or individuals linked to organized crime winning office,” electoral observers and judicial collectives have warned.

This Sunday’s judicial election is the result of a constitutional reform pushed by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in September 2024.

With the support of Sheinbaum, who was then president-elect, the reform was enacted on September 15—just two weeks before she assumed office.

Since then, the process has been marked by political tension, questions about its legitimacy, and calls to strengthen transparency in candidate selection.

Judicial Reform Marks a New Constitutional Chapter

The electoral campaigns officially began on March 30 and concluded on May 28. During that period, various groups documented irregularities such as improper propaganda, misuse of public funds, and minimal oversight of judicial candidacies.

Despite this, Sheinbaum insists that the country is experiencing a pivotal democratic moment and urged citizens not to miss this opportunity.

The National Electoral Institute (INE) has set up more than 170,000 polling stations across the country and claims to be prepared for a smooth election day, according to EFE.