Yucatán surpasses national average in unprecedented judicial election; spoiled votes abound

Despite the complexity of the process and limited advance publicity, Yucatán surpassed the national turnout in the historic judicial election held last Sunday, June 1. However, one fact stood out: the large number of spoiled votes cast by Yucatecans.

According to preliminary figures from the National Electoral Institute (INE) District Counts, with 76.4% of votes counted, the average voter turnout in Yucatán was 12.67%, higher than the 11.76% recorded nationwide. A total of 1,593,720 votes were cast in the state, but 169,839 were spoiled, representing more than 10.6% of the total.

The district with the highest turnout was District 2, headquartered in Progreso, with 16.86%. In contrast, Districts 3 and 6, both in Mérida, had the lowest rates, at 9.50% and 9.47%, respectively.

Regarding spoiled votes, District 4 in Mérida recorded the highest number, with 38,900 invalidated votes, followed by District 2 (Progreso) with 31,379, and District 3 (Mérida) with 31,229. These figures reflect the confusion generated among voters by the use of multiple ballots and the lack of information about the profiles and positions at stake.

Despite this unprecedented election—where judges, magistrates, and ministers were elected by popular vote for the first time—Yucatan citizens responded with a larger-than-expected turnout in several districts. However, the high percentage of spoiled votes reveals the need for better electoral education.

Experts point out that the complexity of the process—in which citizens had to elect judges, magistrates, and ministers from various federal and state bodies—contributed to the high number of voting errors, which ultimately invalidated hundreds of thousands of ballots across the country.

The INE (National Electoral Institute) began counting votes for the federal election on Sunday night, starting with the Supreme Court of Justice position, where Lenia Batres and Yasmín Esquivel are leading the way. The count will then focus on the other positions, with official results due around June 15.

(76.4% of minutes counted)

National participation: 11.7660%

District 1

Head: Valladolid

Total Votes: 287,415

Null: 19,291

Citizen Participation: 14.1212%

District 2

Header: Progress

Total Votes: 295,632

Null: 31,379

Citizen Participation: 16.8599%

District 3

Head: Mérida

Total Votes: 259,470

Null: 31,229

Citizen Participation: 9.5099%

District 4

Head: Mérida

Total Votes: 280,836

Null: 38,900

Citizen Participation: 10.7115%

District 5

Header: Umán

Total Votes: 239,337

Null: 23,753

Citizen Participation: 13.4046%

District 6

Head: Mérida

Total Votes: 231,030

Null: 25,287

Citizen Participation: 9.4710%