Veracruz in turmoil: Elections challenged in 80 municipalities

The electoral process in Veracruz is far from over. A massive wave of challenges has cast doubt on the results in at least 80 municipalities across the state, unleashing a complex legal battle in the courts that could reshape the local political landscape.

Last June's election in Veracruz wasn't the end of the road, but rather the beginning of an intense post-election battle in the courts. Political parties of various affiliations have filed appeals in an unprecedented number: 80 of Veracruz's 212 municipalities have their election results under judicial review.

This situation not only creates uncertainty about who the next mayors will be in a significant portion of the state, but also reveals a deep distrust in the organization and counting of votes, threatening governability and the peaceful transition of local power.

The legal appeals filed with the Veracruz Electoral Tribunal (TEV), which could be escalated to the Xalapa Chamber and the Superior Chamber of the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Branch (TEPJF), are based on various alleged irregularities. Among the most common are:

• Irregularities in the electoral package: The Morena party itself has announced that it is preparing a challenge in Poza Rica due to what its state leader described as "mishandling of the electoral package."
• Errors in vote counting: Discrepancies between the vote count records and the final results.
• Violations of electoral law: Accusations of vote buying, interference by public officials, or exceeding campaign spending limits.
• Candidate ineligibility: Questions about whether the winning candidates met all the legal requirements to compete.

Each of these cases will be analyzed individually by the judges, who will assess the evidence presented by the dissatisfied parties.

The electoral law contemplates several possible outcomes for these challenges:

• Confirmation of the result: If the evidence is insufficient, the court may dismiss the challenge and confirm the original winner.
• Result Modification: In cases where arithmetic errors are found, a new count can be made and, potentially, the winner can be changed.
• Voting ...
• Annulment of the election: In the most extreme scenario, if the violations are serious, widespread, and significant, the court could annul the entire election in a municipality and call for extraordinary elections.

While the courts rule, uncertainty grips these 80 municipalities. The elected mayors are uncertain about their succession, and the handover process is hampered.

This phenomenon of massive judicialization of local elections in Veracruz is not just a political anecdote. It is a symptom of polarization and a lack of trust in electoral institutions. The resolution of this massive challenge will be key to defining not only the political future of almost half the state, but also the credibility of the local democratic system.