Quintana Roo Judicial Elections: Abstentionism in sight due to misinformation

With 20 days to go until the first judicial elections in the history of Quintana Roo, Rubí Pacheco, president of the state Electoral Institute (IEQROO), revealed that the outlook for citizen participation and interest is below expectations.

"Citizens aren't connected to this process, and no one knows the candidates. The outlook is bleak, and it has a lot to do with the polarization generated by the acceptance of the judicial reform," he said.

He added that, although this is a historic process, it is also marked by multiple obstacles, not only due to a lack of information but also a 50 percent reduction in the number of polling stations available for election day. Added to this are logistical complications that make it difficult for citizens to locate their polling place and even to interpret the ballots when casting their vote.

"This is an unprecedented election, and we are working on an ongoing basis. While there is a risk of a high level of abstention, all involved need to strengthen outreach and promotion efforts among citizens to get people to vote," he commented.

Rubí Pacheco noted that this extraordinary process does not include the direct participation of political parties, which has made it even more difficult to position the candidates. However, she said, there are activists and sympathizers who are supporting certain candidates as citizens committed to democracy.

While strategies to encourage participation are being designed in the IEQROO offices, the sentiment on the streets is different. A series of testimonies collected by La Verdad Noticias show that the process has gone virtually unnoticed by a large part of the population.

Norma Castillo, 65, claims to be aware of the elections and the requirements candidates must meet. However, she admits that, like many others, she still doesn't know who the candidates are.

"They don't know each other because they aren't divided into parties as usual, but my brother has told me not to be suspicious because the government is selecting highly qualified people," he said.

Estefanía Bonilla, 32, shares a similar perception. She says that, although she's aware of the judicial election, she's unaware of the profiles and even the duties of each of the elected officials. "We knew there would be elections, but we don't know the candidates or what they'll do in the positions they're running for. I think there should be more publicity about who they are, because, as it is, it's like going to vote blindly."

Luis Casillas, 33, directly criticizes the way institutional outreach has been carried out, stating that authorities should invest more in campaigns, radio broadcasting, and social media. "I think they should invest more in campaigns, radio broadcasting, and social media, because there's very little. The little that's known is due to the fact that the judges are the same, and that's because I have friends who are lawyers, and that's why I know about the process."

For his part, Fausto Castro, 30, admits he doesn't feel ready to participate because the authorities haven't provided enough information. He also believes the process is too technical and unsuitable for an election open to the general public. "Honestly, I don't feel ready to make such a decision. I feel these types of elections shouldn't be open to the general public because there are too many candidates and the positions are very technical, things that only those involved in the legal field understand well."

Faced with this situation, the IEQROO has begun deploying digital tools and communication strategies to reduce the expected level of abstention. One of these is "Clic Judicial," a web platform that provides in-depth information on the electoral process, allows you to view candidate profiles, review the official calendar, and familiarize yourself with the voting process.

"The website will be a way for Quintana Roo residents to learn firsthand about the profiles of those aspiring to these positions," explained the council president.

The tool also includes explanatory videos, infographics, polling place locators (currently being implemented by the INE), and will provide access to preliminary election results. It is available at clicjudicial.ieqroo.org.mx.

In addition, the IEQROO launched a second platform, called "Get to Know Them," on April 29, the date the campaigns began. There, users can view the profiles of the 168 candidates for the 117 available positions. "This initiative responds to one of the purposes established in the Institute's law, which is to guarantee equitable access to information about registered candidates," said Rubí Pacheco, the council president.

This week, the IEQROO will launch its Public Forums, a space where candidates can present themselves directly to the public, either remotely or in person. The intention is to open a direct channel between those aspiring to judicial office and those who will cast their votes.

With 16 days left until the end of the campaigns, the institutional mission is clear: to reverse citizen skepticism and ensure that June 1st does not go down in history as a day of democratic indifference.