Overview

• On June 1, Mexicans will cast ballots in a world-first experiment choosing 881 federal judges, including nine Supreme Court justices and hundreds of lower-court magistrates.
• Voters must navigate at least six color-coded ballots listing thousands of mostly unfamiliar candidates despite limited public outreach and a 52% funding shortfall at the National Electoral Institute.
• Opponents say Morena’s dominant popularity and informal “cheat sheets” are likely to steer votes toward candidates aligned with the ruling party, undermining judicial independence.
• Civil society watchdogs have identified multiple contenders with alleged ties to organized crime or major business interests, raising fresh concerns about external influence on the bench.
• The United States and other international observers are monitoring the outcome for its potential impact on cross-border security, trade relations and commitment to the rule of law.