Mexico’s historic first judicial elections have ended with the ruling Morena party sweeping all Supreme Court seats despite record low voter turnout, raising concerns about the future of judicial independence in Latin America’s second-largest democracy.
At a Glance
- Only 13% of Mexico’s 100 million eligible voters participated in the unprecedented judicial elections
- President Claudia Sheinbaum declared the election “a complete success” despite the low turnout
- Morena party candidates won every seat on Mexico’s Supreme Court
- Critics warn the reform undermines judicial independence while supporters claim it reduces corruption
- A Pew Research Center survey showed 66% of Mexicans support universal judicial elections
Low Turnout Mars Historic Judicial Election
Mexican polling stations stood mostly empty on June 1 as the nation held its first-ever universal judicial elections, allowing citizens to elect judges at all levels of the judiciary. Despite the historic nature of the event, only 13% of Mexico’s 100 million eligible voters participated in the process. The election replaced Mexico’s traditional merit-based appointment system with a public vote, making Mexico only the second country after Bolivia to elect all its judges by popular vote.
Voters faced significant challenges in making informed choices, including having to select from approximately 7,700 candidates for over 2,600 judicial positions. Adding to the confusion, candidates were not allowed to disclose party affiliations or campaign widely, leaving many voters without sufficient information about those on the ballot. The unprecedented nature of the election and its complex structure contributed to the dismal turnout.
Government Celebrates While Critics Raise Alarms
Despite the low participation rate, President Claudia Sheinbaum characterized the election as “a complete success.” In public statements following the vote, Sheinbaum declared, “Mexico is the most democratic country in the world,” doubling down on her administration’s commitment to the judicial reform initiative. The president maintains that elected judges will enhance democracy and reduce corruption in a system that has long been criticized for favoritism and inefficiency.
“Mexico is a country that is only becoming more free, just and democratic because that is the will of the people,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Critics, however, view the reform as a thinly veiled attempt by the ruling Morena party to control the judiciary. The National Regeneration Movement (Morena) has dominated Mexican politics since 2018 when its founder, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, became President. López Obrador frequently criticized judges and occasionally ignored court rulings during his term, raising concerns about respect for judicial independence. Those concerns have intensified now that Morena-aligned candidates have won every seat on Mexico’s Supreme Court.
Controversy Surrounds Reform Implementation
The path to judicial elections was marked by controversy. The Mexican government faced accusations of bribing and detaining opposition senators to secure the votes needed to pass the judicial election reform. These allegations have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of both the process and its outcomes. International observers have noted that the judge with the most votes received only 5% of the total, with one Supreme Court member backed by just 2.7% of voters.
“Judicial independence in Latin America is under attack,” warned Jaime Arellano, an expert on the subject.
American and Canadian authorities have expressed concern that the judicial overhaul might signal democratic weakening in Mexico, potentially leading to investment downturns. Some experts have raised alarms about criminal infiltration into the judiciary through elections. UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite noted that “there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection,” a particularly relevant concern given Mexico’s ongoing struggles with organized crime.
Public Support Despite International Concerns
Despite international criticism and the low turnout, the judicial reform appears to enjoy substantial public support within Mexico. A Pew Research Center survey revealed that 66% of Mexicans support universal judicial elections, while President Sheinbaum maintains an impressive 83% approval rating. This suggests that while participation was low, the concept of democratizing the judiciary resonates with many Mexicans who perceive the traditional system as corrupt or disconnected from ordinary citizens.
The electoral process was notably less violent than other recent Mexican elections, with no candidates murdered during this cycle compared to nearly 40 political candidates killed during the 2024 general election cycle. A second round of judicial elections is planned for 2027, giving the government an opportunity to address some of the issues that emerged during this inaugural process and potentially increase voter participation for future judicial elections.
