Mexico Supreme Court halts Villa Juárez election rules

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) has ruled that Villa Juárez will remain the twelfth municipality of Aguascalientes, but has invalidated the provisions for electing its first municipal government in 2027.

The court determined that the rules governing the creation of the new municipality and the establishment of a provisional municipal council violated the principle of electoral certainty. The decree establishing these rules was published on September 7, 2026, only 32 days before the local electoral process began on October 9, 2026.

Under Article 105 of the Mexican Constitution, electoral laws and norms must be promulgated and published at least 90 days before the start of the process in which they are to be applied. The SCJN ruled that the deadline for publishing such fundamental modifications was July 11, 2026. Consequently, the court invalidated the articles that would have allowed for the 2027 election and the subsequent appointment of a provisional council.