From implementation to evaluation of the election of the Judiciary

It is commonly said that electoral processes follow three-year cycles with three clearly identifiable and sequential stages: the year before the election for planning; the year of execution of that planning; and the year after the election for evaluation.

In the case of the federal judicial election and local judicial elections, including those in Mexico City, this electoral cycle had to be adjusted suddenly, as the electoral authorities were fully immersed in the organization of an election whose rules were designed and published just a few months ago (September for the federal election and December for the local election; both in 2024).

Thus, the Mexico City Electoral Institute (IECM) began the electoral process for various local offices on December 26, just three days after the publication of the reforms to the city's Political Constitution and Electoral Code.

Since then, and with very little planning time, the IECM has adopted numerous measures aimed at ensuring the authentic and peaceful holding of the first election of its kind, in which a portion of the judicial positions will be contested, and giving rise to an election design never before seen in the country.

Among the actions taken to organize this challenging election, it was necessary to analyze, jointly with the INE, various scenarios regarding the design of the eleven judicial electoral districts into which Mexico City was divided, which are the territorial basis for the election; different prototypes of harmonized ballots by gender, type of office, and subject matter were considered; and personal campaign spending limits were determined, incorporating elements to provide certainty and safeguard the principle of fairness in the contest.

We must not lose sight of the fact that, in 2027, the remaining positions in the Judiciary will be elected, thus opening up a new opportunity to redirect the electoral cycle.

The evaluation that follows the judicial electoral process will be extremely necessary, as it will allow us to reinforce successes, detect errors, and visualize possible new scenarios, identifying better areas for exploitation, especially considering that from now on, the electoral institutions are tasked with organizing the elections for the three branches of government of Mexico.

Within the framework of intense institutional dynamics, the set of decisions adopted has had a firm purpose: to provide the IECM itself, candidates, and citizens with the necessary elements and conditions to ensure the proper organization of the June 1st election.

At the Institute, we will continue to develop actions and deploy the necessary efforts to implement this unprecedented election.

IECM Electoral Counselor

@angelesgil_mx