Mexico’s sweeping reorganization of its judicial system got off to a rocky start. The nationwide election of thousands of judges over the weekend was marked by an exceptionally high level of abstention, with nearly 90 percent of voters opting not to take part.
Only 12.6 percent to 13.3 percent of voters cast ballots in Sunday’s election, according to estimates from the national electoral authority, fueling legitimacy concerns. That means the contentious judicial election had one of the lowest turnouts in any federal election since the early 2000s, when Mexico transitioned to a democracy.
The dismal turnout points to the confusion and indecision across the country over the election, which shifts the judiciary from an appointment-based system to one in which voters choose judges. Supporters of the plan have argued that it makes the system more democratic, while critics have characterized it as a power grab by the governing leftist Morena party.