Background on the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) Election
The Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE), Mexico’s electoral authority, announced the invalidation of 818 polling stations during the election process for members of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) due to various irregularities detected during the counting.
Election Details and Impact
On Sunday, during a session of the General Council, INE confirmed the final results of the computations for the election of ministers and justices of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), thus validating the election and assigning the upcoming presidencies of the country’s highest tribunal.
Amidst this validation process, INE reported the invalidation of 818 polling stations across 25 states, containing approximately 3,779,662 votes. These votes were annulled due to irregularities, with 70% of the affected stations found in the state of Chiapas.
Types of Irregularities
- Unjustified 100% or higher voter turnout: Polling stations recorded citizen participation equal to or greater than 100% of the nominal list without any justification.
- “Ballots without doubles”: Observations suggested that some ballots did not pass through the voting machines.
- “Boots’ polling stations”: These were stations where all votes cast were for a single candidate.
- Reports of incidents with “acordeón” (a method of vote-buying) presence: Despite warnings, individuals continued using this tactic in certain polling stations.
- Voting periods exceeding the allowed time: Some polling stations experienced extended voting times, making it impossible for voters to cast their ballots within the designated period.
Implications and Concerns
INE’s consejeras and consejeros highlighted that these irregularities, detected during the district computations phase, tarnished the election. They also pointed out that these practices indicate the persistence of anti-democratic behaviors openly challenging both electoral authorities and the Constitution.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the SCJN? The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) is Mexico’s highest judicial authority, responsible for interpreting the Constitution and ensuring the country’s legal framework.
- Who is the INE? The Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) is Mexico’s independent electoral body, responsible for organizing and supervising elections at the federal level.
- What were the irregularities found during the SCJN election? The irregularities included unjustified high voter turnout, missing ballots, biased polling stations, vote-buying incidents, and extended voting periods.
- How many polling stations were invalidated, and in which states? INE invalidated 818 polling stations across 25 states, with 70% of them located in Chiapas.
- What are the implications of these irregularities? These irregularities raised concerns about the integrity of the election and highlighted ongoing anti-democratic practices challenging both electoral authorities and the Constitution.
