Mexico is preparing to elect its first female president

Today, the public in Mexico is heading to the polls to elect the president. With approximately 100 million people registered to vote, the candidate of the ruling party, 61-year-old Claudia Sheinbaum, is expected to become Mexico’s first female president. Mexico is going to the polls today to determine its new president. As one of the most populous Spanish-speaking countries in the world with multiple time zones, the country is at a turning point. It is expected that the public determining the new president will make history in the elections today. The country, which has long been plagued by gender-based violence and discrimination, is expected to be led for the first time by a female president. It is highly expected that the ruling party’s candidate, 61-year-old Claudia Sheinbaum, will win the election. In surveys conducted before today’s elections, Sheinbaum, the former Mayor of Mexico City and a scientist who outperformed her main opposition Xochitl Galvez by 17%, is expected to become Mexico’s first female president, barring a major surprise. With around 10 women or girls being killed every day, the country is facing high rates of femicide. 100 million registered voters. In a country with a population of 129 million, approximately 100 million people have registered to vote. The voting process will start at 08:00 local time (GMT 16:00) first in the southeast state of Quintana Roo and in some regions close to the U.S. border, then continue in other areas. In a country with high crime rates, thousands of security forces are expected to protect voters from violent drug cartels who are believed to try every means to ensure their candidate’s victory. Voting was suspended in two municipalities. Authorities had previously announced that many politicians had been killed in the intertwining of politics, crime, and corruption in the country. Local authorities stated yesterday that voting was suspended in two municipalities in the south of the country due to violent incidents in regions heavily influenced by cartels. “To all women, I address: You are not alone anymore.” Addressing her supporters at a recent campaign rally, Sheinbaum said, “Mexico will make history. I call on young women and all women in Mexico, you are not alone anymore.” A survey conducted by the research firm Oraculus revealed that the ruling party’s candidate Sheinbaum received 53% of the votes. According to the survey, 61-year-old Galvez came in second with 36%, while the only male candidate in the election, 38-year-old Jorge Alvarez Maynez, received 11% of the votes. In Mexico, voters will also elect congress members, several state governors, and numerous local officials alongside the new president.