Around 100 million Mexicans are heading to the polls on Sunday in what is being dubbed the nation’s biggest election in history. Voters will choose their next president and reshape the political landscape.
The democratic process kicked off at 8:00 a.m. local time in Quintana Roo, where authorities announced the start of voting.
With over 20,000 positions up for grabs, including city councils, mayorships, governorships, and seats in the Mexican Congress, the elections could be historic, potentially marking the first time a woman is elected president.
Recent polls show Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate for the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena), leading in all preferences. She is followed by opposition candidates Xochitl Galvez and Jorge Maynez.
Sheinbaum has pledged to uphold most of the current administration’s policies, including those on public security, public spending, and social welfare programs, which government figures indicate have lifted 5 million Mexicans out of poverty.
To underscore the global significance of these elections, the Mexican government has invited former presidents Alberto Fernandez of Argentina and Evo Morales of Bolivia to observe the process.
They are currently in Mexico to monitor the elections. As of 8:45 a.m. local time, Mexico’s electoral body reported that 36,189 out of 170,182 polling places were operational.
As usual, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador cast his vote at the National Palace in Mexico City.
Mexicans have until 6 p.m. to cast their votes, and the National Electoral Institute (INE), the country’s electoral body, will begin releasing preliminary results at 8:00 p.m. local time.
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